Senator O'Brien asked the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, upon notice, on 25 August 1999:

(1) How many applications, by federal electorate, for funding through the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund were considered by the RTIF Board in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 financial years.

(2) What was the nature of each of the above applications; and (b) in each case what was the value of the grant sought.

(3) How many of the above applications, by federal electorate, for funding through the RTIF were approved.

(4) In relation to the applications made for assistance through the RTIF, how many were supported by the relevant state or territory advisory panel.

(5) When applications for assistance through the RTIF were supported by the relevant state or territory advisory panel but rejected by the RTIF Board, in each case what was the reason for the Board rejection.

Senator Alston (Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The Board considered 451 applications in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 financial years. Attachment A provides details about applications for funding under the program, by federal electorate, as sought by Senator O'Brien. The information is based on the electorates in which the applicant organisations are based, not necessarily the electorates which will benefit from funded projects. The list includes seven applications to vary funding for previously approved projects which are not included in the figure for applications provided above.

(2) Attachment A lists applications by category and the value of the grant sought for each proposal. Copies of Attachment A are available from the Senate Table Office.

(3) The Board approved 236 projects in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 financial years. Attachment A outlines the number of projects approved by federal electorate. The list includes seven applications to vary funding for previously approved projects which are not included in the figure for approvals provided above.

(4) 194 applications have been supported by state and territory advisory panels to the end of 1998-99. This figure does not include 36 multistate applications submitted to the Board, as there was not unanimous support for those proposals from the state panels; 9 applications about which the relevant state panels provided no comments; 57 applications about which the relevant panel provided only general comments; or 12 state government applications which were not submitted to the relevant panel for its consideration.

(5) Of the 194 applications supported by state and territory advisory panels, the NTN Board did not approve 21. The table at Attachment B lists the funding criteria against which the applications were rejected. Copies of Attachment B are available from the Senate Table Office.