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

A lot of the cost structures associated with the costs of housing people on Christmas Island are associated with the high costs of having to transport staff and goods to Christmas Island. Senator Minchin might well interject, but he was responsible when the huge blow-out in the costs of the centre occurred, when the costs almost doubled. Certainly, I can take on notice the details for Senator Fierravanti-Wells, but if the question is, ‘Is it expensive to house people at Christmas Island?’ the answer is yes.