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

Yes, but as a result of Senator Milne’s amendment, which was brought in under the guise of a government amendment—I think the government gave it away that it was in fact a Greens amendment, and I thank the minister for that rare moment of transparency with us this evening—the turbo-charged vehicles are now going to become cheaper relative to your normal Ford Territory, Commodore et cetera. That was the point that I was seeking to make.

I want to inquire about the secret costings—I must say I am not sure that there is anything really secret about them. They seem very rubbery to me and there is a lack of explanation about them. Are we at least allowed to know whether they were based on predicted car sales—that car sales will go up or down—over the next four-year budget period?