Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to a particular departmental brief on a particular date, I will take that on notice and seek to provide a response to the senator. I would reiterate in this matter that it is important for governments to be able to ensure that taxpayer dollars, where they are paid out, are paid where they are validly meant to go. And, in relation to our government, we have acknowledged on this program that there was a need to refund certain payments and to correct in relation to those issues. We equally stand by the need to make sure that taxpayer dollars are respected and that the Commonwealth recoups those where they have been wrongly claimed.