George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The court did not deal with any other Commonwealth programs. It did not consider the broader question of whether division 3B of the Financial Management and Accountability Act was a valid law. It merely decided that, insofar as that act purported to validate the school chaplaincy program, it was ineffective because the school chaplaincy program was not supported by any constitutional head of power. The court did not decide that any other Commonwealth program was invalid. I notice a statement by the shadow minister for finance, Mr Burke, issued a short while ago, in which he suggests a range of Commonwealth programs are put at risk as a result of the court's decision this morning. That statement by Mr Burke is erroneous and ignorant.