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Matt Northe celebrates after kicking the sealing goal for Traralgon in the Elimination Final against Morwell.
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Crowds flocked back to see finals football in the Gippsland League for the first time since 2019. SHOWCASE COVERAGE IN VALLEY SPORT photograph gippsland league
Opal cash go ahead THE Federal Labor government has given the green light for a $48.2 million grant to be awarded to Opal Australian Paper, energy-from-waste project at the Maryvale Paper Mill. Industry Minister Ed Husic approved the funding, which was announced by the former Morrison government in April, just weeks before the federal election. The new federal government had run the ruler over the funding process for 68 grants, that were awarded under the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing
Initiative grants program. The examination showed that these grants were announced either immediately before and during the election campaign. It also found that former Prime Minister Scott Morrison made himself the final decision maker for the grants, which Mr Husic said was “in defiance of usual practice”. But the government review found the funding was awarded according to the applicable grant process and was supported by an independent assessment committee. Mr Husic will now work with the
successful grant recipients - including Opal - to begin the contracting process. He accused the former government of politicising the grant process by delaying announcements until the election period and failing to inform unsuccessful applicants. “As soon as the Modern Manufacturing Initiative was announced in 2020, we were on their case,” Mr Husic said. “Unlike some programs under the former Liberal and National government, the MMI grants were independently assessed. “Given the former government’s track record on grants, it was entirely
appropriate this program was closely examined, a process that started in June.” Member for Gippsland Darren Chester had been calling on the new government to honour the funding since the election, and described the decision as a “win for Gippsland”. Mr Chester said the projects went through a full grants process. However, Mr Chester also said Opal’s planned indoor barramundi farm - a separate project funded under a different program - should also receive federal government support. Continued Page 2
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