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

As the finance minister just points out to me, it is coming in below budget. The royal commission has in fact been a very efficiently run royal commission in terms of its budgeting.

But, when we ask ourselves about the cost of the royal commission, what we have to do is look at it in the overall context. How much is this royal commission going to save the Australian economy by throwing a spotlight on corruption and rorts and racketeering by the trade unions that you seek to protect by destroying the royal commission? We know what your motive is, Senator Collins, just as we do the motive of your leader, Senator Wong. You do not want corruption in the trade union movement exposed and you will stop at nothing to tear down the royal commission that has blown the whistle. (Time expired)