Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to cuts, can I remind the former minister in this area that he also cut $2.5 million from ANSTO? He cut $33 million from cooperative research centres in the 2010 budget and so the list goes on. I think we released a statement on 29 October, so relatively recently, entitled the Boosting the commercial returns from research discussion paper. We are actually getting on with the business to ensure that taxpayers' money will be directed appropriately for the maximum benefit of the Australian taxpayer.

And so, he who presided over these massive cuts—be those to ANSTO, be those to CSIRO or be they to cooperative research centres—has the audacity to get up here and complain about some of the decisions we need to make because of his profligacy whilst in government. (Time expired)