Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Whenever the data does not suit those opposite, they attack the agencies which produce it. That is a constant thematic. It has been the approach they have adopted with the Governor of the Reserve Bank, the Reserve Bank more broadly, and, on the part of the member for North Sydney, in relation to the attack on the independence of the Australian Statistician last week on the unemployment data. On the matter which has just been raised by the member for Curtin, the member for North Sydney indicated last week, when the unemployment data came out, that the Leader of the Opposition would be fronting afterwards for a press conference. He did not.

On this matter concerning the Treasury: they provide advice; the government receives that advice; and, accordingly, the government acts and incorporates that advice within the government’s budget papers. I would say also to those opposite that, when Senate estimates approaches, there will be ample opportunity to quiz the relevant officials as those opposite have done in the past and, I am sure, will do in the future.

See this speech in context