Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

Once again I would urge Senator Mason to protect his own reputation here by not relying on reports that he reads in the Australian, because on each and every occasion to date it has been demonstrated that those reports have not been accurate in their presentation. Perhaps the Australian should not rely upon sources within the Liberal Party, as we have seen with certain fake emails of late. Perhaps that is the type of circumstance that is developing. The article in the Australian claimed that certain moneys were being spent in a particular way, but according to the BER application Claremont Primary School is scheduled to merge with the Mount Faulkner Primary School, and this is taking place in accordance with the BER guidelines, which state:

Where two or more schools have a planned amalgamation over the next three years into either a new school site or an expansion of one of the existing schools, then the indicative funding allocation for the schools to be merged may be combined to be used for capital or refurbishment in the new school. (Time expired)