(1)   What role did the department play in assessing the relative needs of the Western Queensland and Western New South Wales and Northern Rivers and North Coast of New South Wales regions ahead of their announced inclusion in the Sustainable Regions Program.

(2)   What objective criteria were used to assess the relative needs of the two new regions.

(3)   Were the needs of other regions assessed by the department for possible inclusion in the Sustainable Regions Program; if so, which regions; if not, why not.

(4)   What role did the department play in establishing the boundaries of the two new regions under the Sustainable Regions Program.

(5)   By year, what sustainable regions funds will be allocated to each region over the next 4 years.

(6) (a)   What action has the Minister taken to establish a sustainable regions advisory committee in each region; and (b) if applicable, what members have been appointed to each advisory committee.

(7)   What deadline has the Minister set for the establishment of local development priorities by each advisory committee.

(1)   to (4) The assessment and identification of these two new Sustainable Regions was undertaken by the Government in the course of developing policy for the 2004 election.  Factual material sourced by the Department may have been used in any related analysis.

(5)   Over the four years to 2007-08, $21 million will be provided for the Western Queensland and Western New South Wales region and $12 million for the Northern Rivers and North Coast of New South Wales region.  Annual allocations for each region have not yet been determined.

(6) (a)   I am currently considering the establishment of a sustainable region advisory committee in each region (b) Not applicable.

(7)   When appointed, one of the first tasks for the sustainable region advisory committees will be undertaking community consultations to determine local development priorities.