Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to respond to a motion for the production of documents by Senator Xenophon, agreed to on 27 October 2009, relating to the Frontier Economics report.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Now is not the time for that.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have asked.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am advised, Senator Sherry, that this is not the usual time to make this statement but if you choose to do it now I think you are allowed to.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will be very brief in my remarks. I am tabling an assessment of the Frontier Economics proposal to provide intensity-based allocations to electricity generators. It is 12 pages long. In addition to Senator Xenophon having raised it by way of his motion, this matter was raised with Senator Wong and me in the supplementary budget estimates. We took questions on notice about the provision of advice to government relating to Treasury and DCC analysis of the Frontier Economics proposal. A commitment was given to consider what further information could be provided to the estimates committee. The document that I have tabled summarises the government’s assessment of the Frontier proposal.

I just want to conclude by making the point that we are responding to both the questions at supplementary budget estimates and Senator Xenophon’s motion agreed to on 27 October.