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Friday, 25 November 2011
Page: 9733

Finance and Deregulation

(Question No. 1103)

Senator Cormann asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 9 September 2011:

Has the Commonwealth made or is it planning to make direct payments to local councils for road works, including the construction of bicycle paths with respect to the year ended:

(a) 30 June 2010;

(b) 30 June 2011; and

(c) 30 June 2012.

Senator Wong: The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

Yes.

I refer the Senator to the budget and related documents for the financial years in his question. The Commonwealth has made and is planning to make direct payments to local councils for road works, including the construction of bicycle paths.

The following key programs provide funding directly to local councils exclusively for local roads and bicycle paths.

Nation Building - Roads to Recovery;

Nation Building - Off-network projects; and

Jobs Fund - National Bike Path Projects.

The following programs also provide funding to local councils for local roads and bicycle paths as part of larger community infrastructure projects:

Better Regions;

Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program;

Community Infrastructure Grants; and

Regional Development Australia Fund.