❓ Hon John Fischer questions whether State Government agencies are "double-dipping" into regional development schemes, bypassing the budget process. Hon Tom Stephens denies this, stating funds are appropriated through the Department's budget and subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
AnsweredQoN 1137Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the minister please advise the House whether State Government agencies have the opportunity to double-dip into government coffers by making secondary applications to various regional development schemes? (2) If this is the case, is this practice of double-dipping a contempt of Parliament by bypassing the budget process? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
(2) If this is the case, is this practice of double-dipping a contempt of Parliament by bypassing the budget process? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
(3) If no to (2), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
(1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
(2) If this is the case, is this practice of double-dipping a contempt of Parliament by bypassing the budget process? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
(3) If no to (2), why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
(1) State government agencies are able to apply for funding through a number of regional development financial assistance schemes. However, the guidelines for funding generally outline that the state government agencies must demonstrate as part of their application why they are not able to access funds through their own budgets or by cabinet submissions. Under the regional infrastructure funding program, all applications, including those from state government agencies, are fully assessed by a quality assurance panel and referred to the Minister for Local Government and the cabinet standing committee on regional policy for decision. Under the Western Australian regional initiatives scheme, the number of approvals to fund activities of state government agencies has been very low. Under the regional development scheme, the regional collocation scheme, and the community facilities grant program, funding is usually provided to non-government and community groups. It should be noted that priority may be given to projects that are considered to be important strategically to the development of a particular region or regions, or where the provision of state funding would be instrumental in leveraging funding from other sources, such as the Commonwealth or the private sector. (2)-(3) No. Funds allocated and expended under the various regional development schemes are appropriated through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development budget. Therefore, the parliamentary Estimates Committee process provides full parliamentary scrutiny of these schemes.
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