The Rudd Labor Government will provide certainty for up to 86 not-for-profit and local government projects which were granted approvals but did not have formal contracts under the previous government’s Regional Partnerships program.

It is clear from our discussions with community groups and local councils that many were led to believe that funding agreements had been finalised with the previous government.

This has placed community groups in a difficult situation where many have spent their meagre resources to start work.

That is why the Government is taking a common sense approach in considering these projects.

Under the plan, the Government would give 86 not-for-profit and local government projects until 31 July 2008 to complete contract negotiations with my Department.

In addition, they will be required to meet strict timetables and requirements to begin construction. This is to ensure they are sustainable and genuine projects.

This approach will assist community groups and local councils that began work on projects based on false promises made by the former government.

The former government’s approach was to promise all things to all people without putting in place proper processes which ensured projects were actually delivered.

For example, in Bundaberg, the Lake Ellen playground received a conditional approval of $215,000 to purchase playground equipment for children, including those with disabilities. Without any contractual arrangements, the Lake Ellen playground was given Australian Government funding display signs to put up outside their construction site.

The Lake Ellen playground project was symptomatic of the former Government’s approach, criticised in the Australian National Audit Office 1,200-page report released on 15 November 2007. The Audit Office said:

“A feature of the Programme’s administration in the three years to 30 June 2006 was the frequency with which practices departed from the published Programme Guidelines and documented internal procedures.”

(Performance Audit, Volume 1, page 35)

The Audit Office also highlighted the example of an $845,000 Regional Partnerships grant for the Peel Region Tourist Railway which the Prime Minister approved without even an application being lodged.

In a 51-minute spending spree before the 2004 election caretaker mode, the former Parliamentary Secretary De-Anne Kelly also approved 16 projects worth $3.3 million.

The Rudd Government’s common sense approach will give not-for-profit groups who were misled by the former government, the opportunity to complete their contracts.

We also recognise that under the new plan, not all of these projects will meet the requirements to become eligible to receive financial support.

In addition, 21 other projects that were also approved but not contracted by the former government are already being funded either as election commitments or through the Rural Medical Infrastructure Fund.

The remaining eight projects were commercial for-profit projects that were also approved but not contracted by the former government, however they will not be considered under the Rudd Government’s common sense plan.

From next year, there will be a new fund – the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program – to invest in community projects through a proper, accountable process.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, is conducting a public inquiry, with the assistance of Independent MP, Tony Windsor, on the structure of the new program.