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

Senator Siewert, I answered your primary question in the way that I did because I wanted to explain to you the values that inform this government's decision making. But now you are asking me to, as it were, pre-announce what may or may not be in the budget. Decisions about particular program design, decisions about the architecture of particular social programs, as you well know, Senator Siewert, are decisions that are announced in the budget. Out of respect for my colleague the Treasurer and out of respect for the orderly processes of this parliament I will decline to pre-announce such decisions, which, were they made, would be budget decisions.