Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. The minister indicated in his opening answer that the government did not wish to be exposed to unnecessary legal risks. Does the minister accept that his whole process is at risk of becoming a farce if Telstra’s letter, rather than its full and detailed bid, is in fact treated equally to all other formal bids? In terms of the legal risk, does the minister agree that other compliant bidders, who have lodged full and detailed bids, may have every right to challenge such a decision if the government ignores the Auditor-General’s advice?