Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. As I cannot move an extension of time for the minister, I will ask a supplementary question. Doesn’t this reckless decision to abolish the Commercial Ready program make a mockery of the minister’s much-vaunted Review of the National Innovation System, headed by Dr Terry Cutler? Was Dr Cutler consulted prior to these cuts being made? Hasn’t this review in fact received hundreds of submissions, including calls to expand the Commercial Ready program? For example, does not the Australian biotechnology organisation AusBiotech describe this Liberal government initiative as ‘highly successful, cost-effective and the preferred form of government support’? Why are all these people wrong and the minister so right?