Thank you.
First, thank you, Minister, and the team with you, for being here to help us understand the deployment of taxpayer dollars through your ministry.
I was surprised that you refused to provide cost estimate information to Mr. Chisholm. The usual way, and the normal way, as evidenced by the United States and Australia, is to provide cost estimates to Parliament and the public. I do want to remind the minister that the primary responsibility of members of Parliament is to hold government to account for the expenditures of taxpayer funds. I find this a surprising stand on the part of this government.
Minister, do you have concerns that should these estimates be provided that it would be uncomfortable for the government, or would you not have the confidence that you could have an outcome that is similar to the estimated costs? Can you give us some rationale for this unusual approach?