Senate debates

Thursday, 13 October 2011

Bills

Banking Amendment (Covered Bonds) Bill 2011; Second Reading

2:42 pm

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

The key here is getting the personnel, the investment mandate and the governance structures right. I have referred to the process associated with the governance structures. The investment mandate will set out criteria that the board should apply in choosing which investments to make and which projects to support. This will obviously need to strike a balance between encouraging investment in riskier projects and ensuring there is a return to taxpayers at the end of the day. That is why it is important that the chair, Ms Broadbent, be given the time and the resources to conduct extensive consultations and report to government.

In relation to the US experience, I am sure that members of the board will have regard to that. I again make the point that the corporation is independent of government. (Time expired)

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