Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I do not even know, for a start, whether it is indeed sitting on the minister's desk. Of course I will take the question on notice.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Apparently, taking it on notice is amusing. I will take it on notice. What I will say in relation to the CRCs— the shadow minister for industry probably does not know, so I had better tell him—is that a review of the CRC program was announced on 16 September. Mr David Miles AM is leading that review. We are talking about what the future will be for the CRCs. I expect, from what I have here, that he will be reporting back to the minister in the next month or so. When we get Mr Miles's report then we will have a look at it. The trouble is that these are questions that were asked at Senate estimates, and Senator Carr knows exactly what the process is. He has been shamed into asking a question after nearly nine months. He knows what the answer is. He knows Mr Miles is conducting this review. When Mr Miles has finished his review then Senator Carr will be advised accordingly. I also understand that in February of last year we provided over $100 million in funding to extend the CRCs as well as $75 million to establish three new ones. (Time expired)