Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

That is the allegation that is being made. Your own government previously only agreed to commit funding to the end of 2010. At the same time, you have to acknowledge that the current government has agreed to an extension by one year of the current program—and, in addition to that, is conducting a review into its effectiveness.

Senator Troeth, a senator for whom I have great admiration and with whom I have worked very well on a number of committees, said, ‘Oh, you know, it’s another one of these reviews by the current government.’ When you lost office after 12 years of government, and we came to power, it was about time to review quite a few programs. I am aware, for instance, that concerns have been expressed to the government about the current program. The slow take-up in regional areas is just one. So there are issues about its effectiveness. That is what we are about: improving it in the long term.