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

I thank Senator Sinodinos for his question. As he knows, the government has most recently updated its budget figures in the budget update in the midyear review, and that included some revisions to the MRRT. I have been asked a number of questions in this chamber since that time about those figures and made clear that those are the most recent budget updates and they reflect the assessment that the government and Treasury have made in relation to figures in the budget, including the take on MRRT revenue as well as other heads of revenue. It is obviously the case that we have seen consistent downgrades to revenue forecasts as a result of a range of factors. They have been well spelt out in the budget papers over the recent updates. It is also the case, as we have discussed in here previously, that we have seen a significant drop in commodity prices in the period between the budget and, I think it was, around September, and that has been reflected in the changed figures that the government has put into the midyear review. I would make the point that the government does release its monthly updates in relation to figures. I think that I released the accounts on Friday, from recollection. I will see if I can get some further information specifically on the MRRT figures for the senator, but I would make a number of points. Firstly, the Treasury will provide the final numbers to the government once they have complied with legal obligations and completed their analysis. As the— (Time expired)