Dr WEBSTER (Mallee) (09:49): Regional Australians are asking why their communities are being neglected, while the Albanese government finds millions of dollars for hand-picked projects in Labor electorates—like the Prime Minister's own. Labor's $560 million Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program was a closed invitation-only program. Communities couldn't simply put forward their projects and compete; they first had to be chosen by Labor. The Centre for Public Integrity says 45 electorates received nothing under the MLCI, seats like Durack, O'Connor, Grey, Maranoa, Wannon, Farrer, Indi, Riverina, Hume. What do they all have in common? They're regional seats. Mallee got just one modest project, which I supported, a $4.5 million investment in the Maryborough outdoor pool redevelopment—money, I must add, that does not go far enough to do what is required.

All up, the Centre for Public Integrity found 73 per cent of MLCI money went to Labor-held electorates. One project in Maryborough is not a fair share for the Mallee electorate, covering more than 83,500 kilometres. At Nhill, ageing club rooms at Davis Park still need replacing. At the last election, I committed $2.8 million towards that project. At Kaniva, I committed $500,000 towards an all-abilities splash park. Like many other regional shires, the West Wimmera shire and Kaniva community are still fighting to redevelop their ageing pool precinct. At Beulah, seven years after fire destroyed the town's only supermarket and community hub, the community is still fighting for a permanent replacement. I committed almost $1.4 million to rebuilding this essential service, and Yarriambiack Shire Council continues to pursue funding today. These regional shires have low rate bases. Without government support, they simply cannot upgrade infrastructure.

Adding insult to injury, Labor has abolished the coalition's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which gave untied money to councils so they could decide how the funding was spent locally. By contrast, Labor's secretive grants program found $6 million through MLCI for the Marrickville Golf Club, as we all now know, in the Prime Minister's own electorate. Australians are entitled to know who chooses the projects and the criteria applied. Why was Marrickville Golf Club invited through the front door, while communities such as Nhill, Kaniva and Beulah were left outside?

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