Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, Senator Macdonald: $1 billion. It is now close to $1.1 billion. We know that is a lot of money. That is a jackpot. It is big money. We are not talking about hundreds of millions; we are talking about nearly $1.1 billion. But the amazing thing is that, prior to the election, the government promised to cut consultancies by $400 million. They wanted to cut it by $400 million—$100 million a year over four years. They promised to cut spending on consultancies, but it has gone up and it is now well over $1 billion. That is a whole-of-government approach. This government have no idea of how to manage the economy or how to manage the government. That waste is going to be paid for by Australian families and their kids for years and years to come, and that is shameful behaviour by the government. They should know better. They should hang their heads in shame and apologise to the Australian people and come clean. The Australian people, Australian families, say, ‘Enough is enough; this government should get it right.’