Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. The Capacity Investment Scheme is very important for creating jobs and investment across Australia. The auction just last week will unlock $17 billion in private investment and create around 19,000 construction jobs, so it's very important.

In relation to the cost in the budget, the costings are commercial-in-confidence, for reasons that the House would understand. It is an auction and it is appropriate that the taxpayers' interest be respected and defended by keeping it commercial-in-confidence. The member for New England would understand this. When he was in office, he once said, 'I don't believe there's a reason that everyone in the public needs to know commercial-in-confidence agreements in relation to government policy.'

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