Chris Bowen (Prospect, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Hansard source

I want to pay due respect to my honourable friend opposite and say that he knows the budget process very well. He has actually been involved in more budgets than I have at a senior level, both as an adviser to government and as a member of parliament. He knows full well the issues that are taken into account by treasurers, assistant treasurers, expenditure review committees and cabinets in relation to budget measures. To pay him his due deference, he is a man of great experience and has been involved in these decisions for longer than I have. He knows full well the matters taken into account by government.

In relation to the honourable member’s question about what was considered by the government in the decision, I refer to my previous answer that the government does not comment on cabinet processes, Expenditure Review Committee processes or the matters that are considered by the Expenditure Review Committee or the cabinet, as they are cabinet-in-confidence.

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