Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

The Treasurer has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Yes.

(2) Yes.

(3) It is customary for the question of appropriate remedial action to be dealt with by the relevant portfolio minister, as these ministers are responsible for implementing the Government’s policy objectives and applying competitive neutrality (CN) policy to the agencies for which they bear responsibility.

In mid- April 2012, the Assistant Treasurer, the Hon David Bradbury MP, wrote to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, drawing his attention to the report PETNET Australia: Australian Government Competitive Neutrality Complaints Office (AGCNCO): Investigation no. 15,and asking him to consider the AGCNCO’s recommendations and the need to implement arrangements to ensure that PETNET is compliant with the Government’s competitive neutrality policy.

I understand that the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), of which PETNET is a subsidiary, has met with the AGCNCO to discuss the recommendations in the report and to obtain guidance to ensure that steps taken by ANSTO in relation to PETNET’s business model will satisfy the Government’s competitive neutrality requirements.