Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) Share this | Hansard source

We're probably getting to a level of detail regarding the operation of cabinet. Obviously ministers have to operate within the conditions that are placed on them by the cabinet. However, in relation to the rolling out of a new type of loan or a new type of facility, obviously the states would have a say, because we can't roll out a facility in their state without their consent.

There are a number of checks and balances that occur through this process. Whilst you make it sound like the minister just makes a decision, there is a series of processes that are already in place around the governance, operation and accountability of the organisation through which this is being undertaken—the processes that currently exist in relation to the operation of ministers, their requirements and obligations under the cabinet process and through the relationship that the federal government has with state governments through existing arrangements and through the requirement of the government to comply with the regulations and requirements of the states in which these activities are occurring.