House debates Questions without Notice

Great Barrier Reef Foundation

Tuesday, 14 August 2018 House of Representatives

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)

3:04 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that the Chief Operating Officer of the CSIRO sent an email a day after the government announced half a billion of taxpayers' money for a small, private foundation, stating:

we didn't have visibility … seems to have involved the PM's office … funding went to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation … team will make calls this morning to see what else they can find.

The CSIRO had no idea about this plan when the Prime Minister offered almost half a billion dollars on 9 April. Whose idea was it?

Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

I thank the honourable member for his question. The minister for the environment set out the process already—yesterday. It came through the budget process, pursuant to a submission made by the minister to the Expenditure Review Committee in the normal way.