Giving ultimate responsibility on Regional Partnership funding decisions to unidentified, unelected and unaccountable decision makers is against the principles of good government, Senator Boswell said. What are politicians elected to do if not to make decisions and take responsibility for them on behalf of the Australian people? I challenge Labor candidates and MPs to give back their local Regional Partnerships Programme projects if theyre not happy with the program. I challenge Labor MPs and candidates to stand up in their droughtstricken communities and tell the locals why they shouldnt get funds for projects that will help see them through to better times. Attacking Regional Partnerships is attacking country people when theyre doing it very tough under the drought. Senator Boswell said that he had delivered millions of dollars in Regional Partnerships funding over recent years to non-coalition electorates for a wide range of projects that were brought to the Government from grass-roots local community groups. But if Labor wants to pull the plug on any or all off these grants, then let them stand up in their local areas and identify the grants that are at risk. Senator Boswell said that Regional Partnerships projects like the establishment of a new Wowan Dululu Community Centre, the construction of a community pool at Baralaba and the expansion of the small stock abattoir at Mount Morgan, had changed communities and provided hope and employment in some of the small communities hardest hit by drought and other I thought that Simon Crean supported Regional Partnerships. I had my photograph taken with him at the Beef 2006 event at Rockhampton, which was funded under Regional Partnerships to the tune of $2 million, Senator Boswell said. On a recent election campaign trip to Central Queensland, Mr Crean also promised $1 million for the Blackwater aquatic centre, $1.7 million for the Hegvold Stadium in Rockhampton, $160,000 for a softball ground at Kele Park, $1.5 million for the Dysart Sports Complex and $1 million for the Winton Dinosaur project and $2.6 million for the Tree of Knowledge centre. The Dysart sports complex was knocked back by the bureaucrats but Simon Crean promised it anyway. Many of the other Labor announcements are currently in the middle of the Regional Partnership application process yet Simon Crean has announced them - before department approval or rejection. Why is it ok for Simon Crean to announce grants without departmental approval but not the Coalition? ENDS Media contact - 0428 714 779 or 3001 8150