Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Fierravanti-Wells for her questions. I can indicate that there will be a meeting held at four o'clock today at the Wyong council to discuss whether or not it will be putting forward further applications in regard to the centre that the senator has asked me about. We do know that the usual communications have occurred between local members of parliament and ministers in regard to progress on projects in their electorates. However, I can assure the senator that the applications have been assessed independently by the department and the capital works program management firm that has been engaged by the department in accordance with the guidelines and, of course, the provisions of the Commonwealth financial framework act. There has been no suggestion to the contrary that I can see. I repeat, the Wyong Shire Council is calling a meeting at four o'clock today, as I understand it, to decide whether or not work on the Central Coast Group Training joint submission for the establishment of a youth centre will proceed. The government takes the view that parties involved in this matter ought to be able to work together in the interests of young people in the region.