Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that the Chief Operating Officer of the CSIRO sent an email a day after the government announced half a billion of taxpayers' money for a small, private foundation, stating:

we didn't have visibility … seems to have involved the PM's office … funding went to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation … team will make calls this morning to see what else they can find.

The CSIRO had no idea about this plan when the Prime Minister offered almost half a billion dollars on 9 April. Whose idea was it?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. The minister for the environment set out the process already—yesterday. It came through the budget process, pursuant to a submission made by the minister to the Expenditure Review Committee in the normal way.