Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

I don't believe that the Prime Minister had any involvement with spreadsheets of the nature you describe. The Prime Minister, as he has made clear, as Senator McKenzie has made clear, and as I have made clear on a number of occasions now, appropriately was involved in decision-making around announcement arrangements. The projects had been approved by the responsible minister at the time, appropriately and consistent with the ministerial guidelines issued at the time. Announcement arrangements are the same in our government as they would have been in your government. This confected outrage is starting to wear a bit thin, particularly given people are focused on some significantly more important issues right now.