Senate debates

Tuesday, 3 August 2021

Questions without Notice

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience

3:04 pm

Photo of Bridget McKenzieBridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I will have to get back to you with the totality of the budget allocations. Obviously, my last three weeks, as you can see from the brief time we've had to spend together outlining the programs that I'm responsible for and who makes decisions—I've got a lot more to go through, about which I'm happy to give you a private briefing, if that would assist you.

But I think the heart of your question, Senator, might actually been going to ministerial discretion in a Westminster democracy. As I've said on the public record, ministerial discretion is absolutely key to how our government functions. Ministers should take the advice and recommendations of departments and agencies and then exercise ministerial discretion appropriately, and my ministerial discretion, in other programs I've administered, resulted in a fairer outcome for Australian taxpayers. (Time expired)

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