David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

It might come as a surprise to the senator—I do not expect her to understand, but this is a corporate entity that has a board of directors, a chairman and a managing director. This is a commercial entity that must comply with governance rules. The government is not going to hold their hand. The government's responsibility is to provide a legal and regulatory framework within which they can work properly in the commercial environment confronting them.

The Labor Party would have us go in, hold their hand, put our arm around them and carry them forward, at taxpayers' expense. We will not do that. The blank check of a guarantee is not on.