Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

There is absolutely no fiscal impact, because we remain committed to the savings. We remain committed to the savings, as the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Abetz, has rightly pointed out. I refer Senator Polley to page 88 of Budget Paper No. 2: the $150 million for the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy continuation, which Labor defunded. According to Senator Wong this was a lapsing program under Labor. We actually put $150 million into the budget for it. I read on page 88:

The Government will provide $150.0 million in 2015-16 to continue the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, which funds the operation and maintenance of critical national research infrastructure. This funding will allow the most critical existing research facilities to continue to deliver maximum benefits to the research community.