The matter I wish to raise relates to drought relief, and I direct my adjournment matter to the Minister for Agriculture in the other place.
On Thursday, 5 April 2006, a significant number of new drought infrastructure projects for south-western Victoria were announced — 3 projects in Corangamite shire, 6 in Glenelg shire, 1 very large project in the Colac-Otway shire, 4 in the Greater Geelong council area, 16 in the Moyne shire, 5 in the Southern Grampians shire, 2 in the Surf Coast shire, and 6 in the Warrnambool council area — amounting in value to a total of $2.4 million.
The projects are being funded up to 100 per cent, with priority given to projects that are labour-intensive and which use local labour.
I congratulate the government for making this announcement as it is yet another solid example of the Bracks government’s commitment to rural and regional Victoria and its genuine understanding of the hardship and difficulties and challenges faced by ordinary Victorians.
Could the minister advise what mechanisms will be put in place to monitor the use of local labour, to highlight the work that is undertaken by locals affected by the drought in western Victoria?