Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

These are obviously commercial negotiations, and the government wants to extract best value for money. So, in that sense, we hope that the existence of Australia as a purchaser in the market and the opportunities that that provides will hopefully bring some domestic engagement to that market. As to the cost basis there, the government will also be guided by trying to secure the most competitive environment in the market. But we'll obviously be mindful of all the other factors that might be beneficial, should there be interest in the production of domestic tickets and development of a domestic ticket market. On the domestic front—

Senator Xenophon interjecting—

Not that I'm aware of, Senator Xenophon. In terms of exploration of the value for money and security around the contracts, the treaties or bilateral agreements with other countries would, in the normal course of events, be public documents; so that level of engagement will be clear. Other documents will absolutely be able to be questioned through normal Senate procedures—estimates and so forth. There may be some elements of them that are commercially sensitive, and that's a matter that will have to be explained and dealt with at the time. I think that addresses the questions you asked on that occasion.