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

I thank Senator Singh for that question. I completely reject the premise of the question. We did not ask nbn co to assess a distorted version of Labor policy. As part of prudent, good and effective government we asked them to assess various alternative ways of delivering the NBN project at the best possible price in the fastest possible way. That is just good government at work. You might try it sometime. Instead of having Senator Conroy on a VIP aircraft writing down some notes on the back of a beer coaster on how to waste a lot of taxpayers' money, we are asking our government business enterprises to properly assess all of the various options and to ensure that taxpayers' money is treated with respect.