Page 933 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 29 March 2011
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Climate change—community grant round
MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and concerns the 2010 community climate change grant round. Minister, you announced the grant round on 4 March and the closing date for grant applications is 31 March—only 3½ weeks. Given that six weeks is recognised as a reasonable minimum time frame, why have you only allowed such a short time frame for community groups to apply for these grants?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Hunter for the question. I have to confess that I am not across the details of the procedures in place for that grants round but I will seek some clarification on the matter and provide advice to the member.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, supplementary question?
MS HUNTER: Minister, how do you expect the community sector to provide the required “letters of support from stakeholders, project partners and other relevant material to your application to demonstrate consultation and community support and involvement” in just over three weeks?
MR CORBELL: Again, Mr Speaker, I am unable to confirm the details of the grant round at this stage. But, as I have indicated to the member, I will seek further advice and provide advice to her.
MS BRESNAN: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, given that the examples of appropriate activities listed in the guidelines are labour intensive, why did the grant guidelines say that applications with high salary components will not be considered, and how do you expect organisations to develop the necessary materials if you are not prepared to pay staff?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Bresnan for the question and I refer her to my earlier answer.
MS LE COUTEUR: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Le Couteur.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, do you think the community sector workers deserve fair pay and how would you deliver these important climate change outcomes without paying for staff’s time?
MR CORBELL: I think these grants rounds are not about issues about pay of people employed in the non-government sector. That is a matter of broader policy context
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