Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Scullion for his question in respect of the drought initiatives of the Rudd government. I may have to take this on notice but, in explaining the reasons, Senator Scullion may want to understand that Centrelink delivers on behalf of policy departments. So the respective policy department would undertake the development of the policy, deliver the relevant policy parameters to Centrelink to develop and then provide the service delivery through, in this instance, Centrelink. On that basis it is best that I take that on notice not only to check what consultation has in fact taken place with Centrelink but also to provide a whole answer to ensure that you get a full picture, which would include, in this instance, DAFF as the relevant policy department.