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

Of course, there is a need to review the budget forecasts simply because of the opposition's policy, which has sought to deny the government's policy arrangements. The opposition has put a position. As a result of that position, we now see that there are increased costs that have to be borne by this country—increased costs for the Navy and increased costs in the operation of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Also, we know that the opposition would waste $980 million over four years in operational expenses alone on the Nauru option—nearly a billion dollars down the drain. That is their policy. So it is only reasonable that, given the extraordinary, wasteful attitude that the Liberal Party have, particularly in the context where they are looking for a $70 billion gap in their funding arrangements for other things, we should bear in mind what the costs are of the opposition's policy as well. So, when the review is undertaken, we can also have a good look at what the opposition are costing this country.