Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Wright for her question. As the senator said in her question—through the finance minister who has the power to do so under the Financial Management and Accountability Act—the Commonwealth's right to recover payments that have already been made under relevant funding agreements has been waived; however, I would advise the senator that this does not affect the fact that the program cannot be continued by the Commonwealth: no further payments will be made under the current program. The government will consider the High Court's decision closely in order to determine whether there are implications for other Commonwealth expenditure programs.