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

In relation to the capital cost, there has been, as I said earlier in the debate, a quite long negotiation between government and industry, and there are very diverse estimates of the capital cost—I see you nodding—as I think you know. As to which of those within that diverse range the government will settle upon as a reasonable estimate of the capital cost across industry and as to the percentage contribution the government will make to that figure as its substantial contribution, as promised, to the capital cost, those are matters currently before the government. They are a matter of deliberation as part of the budget process, because there will be an outlay here, of course. Those matters, because they are part of the budget deliberations at the moment and are cabinet in confidence, I am not at liberty to share with you.