Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 8:17:00 to 8:21:52
The committee reviews specific infrastructure projects in Bendigo, including recreation reserves and the Central Deborah Gold Mine, while debating the transparency of the assessment process for election commitments.
Topics: Infrastructure, Government spending
Speakers: Hon Bridget McKenzie, Lisa Rauter, Senator Glenn Sterle, Jacinta McDonald, Senator Paul Scarr, Paula Stagg
>> Okay. In fact, yeah. Okay. In Bendigo, how many Bendigo projects were invited to apply under MLCIP? And were any projects rejected?
>> No projects have been rejected yet, but we also have not finished uh full assessments yet. I'm just looking at whether there's any Bendigo projects.
>> I believe there are seven projects.
>> Seven projects. Could you just run me through those seven, please?
>> Actually, correct. Sorry, Senator. I correct that. There are four projects in the major >> Bendigo. >> Bendigo. Yeah. So, there's the North Bendigo Recreation Reserve. The Pavilion.
>> How much was that for? >> Oh, the pavilion upgrade.
>> Yep. That's for 3 million. >> There's the Central Debra Gold Mine Revitalization, which is >> 2,915,000. There's the Truscot Recreation Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment for 1 million. >> And Kangaroo Flat Skate Park for
Um, did Lisa Chesters or her elected office nominate any projects?
>> We don't know who nominated the projects
anymore. What correspondence exists between Lisa Chesters' office and the
>> None of that I'm aware of.
>> Were Bendigo Council's infrastructure priorities considered before the projects were selected?
>> Before the projects were selected, I
would have >> in a Labor Party process. Um, were Bendigo Council's uh any projects requested by Bendigo Council excluded from the process?
not aware of what happens before we get
>> Did the department independently assess community demand in Bendigo for community infrastructure projects?
>> No, we don't do that assessment. We assess it on a project by project basis.
>> Uh what uh evidence supported the original funding amounts for each of these four projects in Bendigo? >> Were these commitments made before detailed cost estimates existed?
>> Could you ask that question again?
>> Were these commitments made before detailed cost estimates existed when the
announcement would m was made? I don't know what goes into deciding those announcements. We only know what the assessment process tells us about the
Isn't it indicative as you go through the assessment process whether a project can produce the design and the costed design quickly as opposed to in some cases taking 18 months between the election announcement um and not getting the funding agreement signed or contractual arrangements in place because the paperwork doesn't
>> I can't answer that question. All I can say is that we assess what's given to us at the time and everyone got their applications in by the deadline of 1 March.
>> And I'm sorry to interrupt but I have a point of order. Sorry I was writing and
>> yeah I just think Australian back into the territory that we were earlier in the day where it's about it's not about the department process. So I just like to bring that to the attention.
>> I'm sorry I completely missed it. Um, okay. It's brought to our attention what?
>> Well, over half a billion dollars of taxpayers money has been expended on this program. What are >> you talking about? >> I think it's incumbent on this committee to make sure that's transparent as
>> Yeah. Sorry, Senator SC. Yeah,
>> just on the point of order, I uh whilst I respect the point of order that's been raised, I disagree with it because Senator McKenzie is raising the issue with respect to the lack of documentation including presumably with respect to design work etc. that's being done um prior or as part of the department's consideration of these projects. So we move beyond the election to the question of how quickly have the applicants been able to provide uh the design work etc for the project. So I think Senator McKenzie's questions in order.
>> Okay. Thank you Senator Scarr. And I think the minister so minister just to inform you the previous minister read out a statement saying along the lines of that senate estimates goes to budgets and and all sorts of stuff and the party stuff is nothing to do with the estimates process. He has made the statement. the officers will answer as they see fit and as they see accordingly and I would encourage the min um senator just ask whatever questions you like but the minister has already set the scene that that's not for here it's up to you how you answer okay thank you