House debates Questions without Notice

Budget 2007-08

Monday, 21 May 2007 House of Representatives

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House

2:46 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is it that according to the budget papers the government could find only $53 million to spend on the national water plan in the coming financial year but could find $55 million in the past to advertise Work Choices—the law that dare not speak its name—before abandoning that campaign?

John Howard

John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

The total expenditure under the national water plan is $10 billion. The expenditure in relation to that advertising campaign was $55 million. I do not quite know what the member is getting at.