Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

This is one of the most professionally handled sales in the history of sales of Commonwealth government businesses. It is one of the most expert and superbly handled sales, despite the opposition of those opposite. This lot are trying to wreck this sale. They are going around talking down this sale. They want to see taxpayers lose on this deal—it is outrageous. They have already cost taxpayers $50 billion by not supporting a full sale in 1990. Now they are spending their whole time talking down this sale. It is outrageous behaviour on their part to so seek to destroy shareholder value. I will get back to Senator Sherry with any advice that we have in relation to the document he has tabled. I am happy to come back on that but I can assure the Senate that we have acted within the law at every step of this exhaustive process.