Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I well remember, Senator Shoebridge, the resourcing difficulties that the Information Commissioner had over the period of the former government, because on regular occasions I asked the Information Commissioner about exactly that matter in Senate estimates when we were in opposition. It was disgraceful the way that the former government starved the Information Commissioner of resources in the way that it did.

Already, though, today, every question we've had from the Greens—as has been the case in other settings as well—has called for this government to spend more money. We have to recognise that we have inherited a complete financial mess from the former government. Earlier today you were asking us to spend more money on paid parental leave—a worthy thing to do. Now you're asking us to spend more money on the Information Commissioner—a worthy thing to do. I'm sure your next question will ask us to spend 'eleventy billion dollars' on something else. We will weigh up all of those things and make the commitments we can afford to do.