Senate debates Questions on Notice

Finance and Deregulation (Question No. 2629)


David Johnston

David Johnston WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence

asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 26 November 2012:

With reference to the statement made by Mr Stephen Ludlam during the 2012-13 Budget Supplementary estimates hearing of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee (Committee Hansard, 16 October 2012, proof p. 109), that 'Generally speaking, before we enter into a contract we will forecast that through to the end':

(1) What was the forecast air warfare destroyer profit at contract signature.

(2) What is the current forecast air warfare destroyer profit.

Penny Wong

Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

ASC advises that it is not in a position to disclose this information in relation to forecast and to actual profits as it could prejudice ASC's and the Commonwealth's commercial interests with respect to its participation in the AWD Alliance.