Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I want to indicate my position in relation to this. I have had an opportunity to speak briefly to Senator Cormann about it. I think some aspects of this have some merit, particularly in relation to gross and net debt and providing a breakdown of where taxpayer dollars go. I think Senator Joyce asked a number of pertinent questions in relation to that. I wonder whether there is some additional complexity in relation to that.

Whilst I will not be supporting these amendments, I will be proposing to amend the motion that the report of the committee be adopted such that the amendments proposed by Senator Cormann be referred to the Senate Economics References Committee to report by 31 March 2011. That way, the practicalities of it and any unintended consequences can be assessed in a relatively timely fashion. I think that might advance the debate in relation to this, because I am working on the assumption that the opposition genuinely wants to have a greater level of transparency and I want to see a process to have it robustly examined.