Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 8 November 2011:

With reference to the Prime Minister's joint media release of 17 October 2011 with the Acting Premier of Queensland, 'Queensland communities boosted by continued reconstruction investment':

(1) As the Minister who administers the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement framework through the 'long standing natural disaster arrangements' referred to in this media release, where in the budget will the

'more than $1.1 billion' in funding announced for the Darling Downs and South West come from.

(2) Is this funding, that would have been provided anyway, under existing arrangements, or is this a new policy commitment.

(3) Will the Strengthening Grantham initiative be funded out of the department or elsewhere.

(4) Why was Grantham identified as requiring a special appropriation for this initiative and what role did the department play in identifying Grantham.

(5) Were any other sites identified as potential recipients of this kind of project; if so, which sites were considered and why were they rejected.

(6) Are there other towns across Australia that were identified as being worthy of this kind of relocation initiative; if so, does the Government intend to fund similar projects in other towns.