Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

As I said, of 844 questions from the various estimates to which Senator Eggleston referred, Treasury has responded to all but 55. I will certainly endeavour, on behalf of the Treasurer, to have those provided as soon as possible. My advice is that we anticipate it being in the very near future.

I ask the good senator to recognise that these are the same officials who have worked on the federal budget. As he would recall from his time in government, that is a very labour-intensive process. As someone who has been part of that process, I can vouch for the fact that very long hours and very many weekends are worked by public servants in the preparation of the federal budget.

I think I was asked questions by Senator Fisher only in relation to climate change and energy efficiency. In relation to those, of the 70 questions asked, I am advised that 61 have been answered at this point and I am informed by the minister's office that the department is working as quickly as possible to finalise the outstanding nine. I also understand that we anticipate most of those questions being available prior to the next estimates hearing.