Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

There is an important principle at stake here, and that is for the Senate to determine who appears before its committees, including the estimates committees. This is a matter that Senator McEwen and I and others have been pursuing for some time in relation to a report by Macroeconomics.Com.Au Pty Ltd on the economic modelling in respect of the Future Submarine Program. We know that Dr Rob Bourke, an economic adviser from the department, has had a key role in this. We ought to be able to hear from him directly in terms of his direct knowledge about the modelling that was carried out—modelling that cost taxpayers half a million dollars, which we cannot see and which the government is refusing to release.

Question agreed to.