Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Hansard source

As I have previously pointed out, the bill already provides for rigor and transparency. Spending on specific projects would be assessed by independent advisory bodies and I would point out that the Senate has added yet another body, a joint parliamentary committee, on top of the additional rigor of independent advisory bodies. Here we have a set of amendments that go to further requirements over and above that which this government has set out, which are a considerable improvement on the practices of the previous government. These amendments go over and above the joint committee that has just been supported by amendment. All the agreed infrastructure projects will be reported in the budget papers.

I point out, as I did earlier, that as all of these projects are reported we have the capacity, which no doubt will be used, for each minister that is referred to in these amendments to be questioned—as I am sure they will be, very rigorously and vigorously—as is the Senate’s rights at estimates. We already have a process, so why do we need to add another? I note that there are other amendments that go to even more processes over and above what has already been agreed to by the government in the bill and over and above what has already been included via passage of the amendment that has just been added by the Senate. We do not support the amendments moved by the opposition.