Mark Bishop (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I ask a supplementary question, Mr President. Don’t finance department officials participate in defence capability committees to help cost, evaluate and plan major project decisions prior to their announcement? Isn’t the minister himself an invited member of the National Security Committee of Cabinet when discussions include Defence projects? If the finance minister is not fully costing and scrutinising multibillion-dollar spending commitments, just who is protecting the taxpayers’ financial interests? Will the minister, on behalf of the government, guarantee that there will be full adherence to proper process in this particular procurement project?