Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

They claim interest in the answer but never want to listen. This has been their problem with this program all the way through. The member would be aware, if he was interested in this, that we withheld money from the New South Wales government because it was not meeting its obligations properly. If there is evidence that this money has not been spent properly, in terms of meeting safety standards, there is opportunity for each of those so-called complaints to be addressed to the Orgill committee. The question I would ask the member to contemplate when he goes from this place is: have those 91 complaints been referred to the Orgill committee. That is what it was set up to do. The only point I would make in conclusion is that this program would never have happened if those opposite had held the treasury benches. They were a party that had no idea of the importance not just of investing in the future of education but of creating jobs. The Orgill committee is there for responsible complaints. I suggest the member, if he is concerned about this beyond this answer, direct his questions to the Orgill committee.

See this speech in context