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

The government's announcement today is self explanatory. We did not believe—and it is a matter of public record—that a royal commission was the appropriate way forward. But, given how this debate has evolved and given the increasingly political nature of the debate and how it was impacting on a very important sector for the future success of our economy, we made the judgement that, in the circumstances that Australia had reached and in the national interest, it was appropriate to make the decision that we have made. All of the appropriate consultations have taken place, and the Prime Minister and the Treasurer will continue to make relevant announcements as appropriate.