Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

Again, I think that Senator Bishop is guilty of almost deliberately confusing the minds of those listening and this chamber about the difference between the initial capital cost and the 30-year whole-of-life maintenance cost. That is the difference. That is one of the great things I think about going into these private financing arrangements. That is why state Labor governments are actively, properly and sensibly pursuing these sorts of arrangements with a whole range of facilities like schools, prisons, hospitals and various other things. We have a very diligent approach to public-private partnerships. The policy is administered by my department, but it is a matter for Defence itself. I am happy to see if Defence can release any further information to you about the criteria to ensure that a proper value-for-money judgement was made, but I am satisfied that that was the case in relation to this very important project.