Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The calculations attached to Senator Scullion’s press release assume that all of the $45 million spent under SIHIP up to 30 June 2009 was on program management costs. But, as the review clearly showed, less than $18 million of that expenditure at that time was for program management. It also appears that you have not appreciated that the $128 million allocated for the first three packages on the Tiwi Islands, Groote Eylandt and Tennant Creek will be spent on improving essential services infrastructure, delivering power, water, sewerage and roads. Finally, I am advised that the press release of Senator Scullion states that there will be 37 refurbishments and upgrades provided under the first three packages; however, there will actually be 308 rebuilds and refurbishments in the first three packages. (Time expired)