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

I thank Senator Whish-Wilson for that question. Sadly, in the lead-up to any budget, there is a lot of rumour and speculation leading to the budget. That is not a recent phenomenon. That is something that happens in the lead-up to every budget, and so it was in the lead-up to this budget.

In answer to the specific question: Treasury—which, of course, takes a whole series of precautions when it comes to protecting the security of information inside the lockup, through measures which are consistent with those measures that have applied for some time under governments of both political persuasions—is not aware of any evidence of a leak out of the lockup. There is no evidence, according to advice that we have received from Treasury, of any leak out of the lockup. But of course there is, sadly, in the lead-up to any budget, a lot of pre-budget speculation, and so it was on this occasion.