Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Once again, the question is based on an entirely false premise. Those opposite have been running a campaign this week trying to highlight what they allege is waste and mismanagement. My colleagues Senator Carr and Senator Arbib have comprehensively dealt with these allegations in this chamber. Those opposite who then want to try to construct questions to the Department of Finance and Deregulation are so out of questions that they are desperately asking a minister representing the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. The question is a joke and it should be treated as such. I invite you to review the Hansard to see if this question had any relevance to this portfolio.