Mr BARRESI —Is the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs aware of opposition moves to disallow regulations for an increase in English language education charges for economic migrants? Could the minister inform the House of what this will do to the $10 billion Beazley bankcard bill?

Dr Theophanous —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question is hypothetical and is therefore out of order.

Mr SPEAKER —I will have to hear the question again.

Mr BARRESI —Is the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs aware of opposition moves to disallow regulations for an increase in English language education charges for economic migrants? Could the minister inform the House of what this will do to the $10 billion Beazley bankcard bill.

Mr SPEAKER —The question is in order.

Mr RUDDOCK —I can inform the House that amongst the proposals the opposition has put forward in the Senate to disallow migration regulations is one to disallow proposals for English language education charges. In relation to those matters that are the subject of disallowance, the potential loss to the government is of the order of $25 million.

Obviously, if it is not an addition to the overall deficit, the opposition would be arguing that some other areas of expenditure in my portfolio ought to be reduced. I do not know what they are suggesting if that is the case. I could imagine that one of the savings they might want to see made would be the extent to which my department is able to service those migrants who want to come to Australia. They may be suggesting that posts be closed. They may be suggesting that we should reduce some of the funding for settlement services. Is that what they are suggesting?

You have to be prepared to make choices in these matters. Let us understand what the nature of the choice is that the opposition has in mind. What they are seeking to do now is to disallow charges for economic migrants and their dependants. They are saying that, in relation to the proposal for full cost recovery of teaching English to new arrivals who come through the business migration program, millionaires coming through the migration program should have their English language tuition subsidised by taxpayers. That is what they are suggesting. If you are not, you would want to reassess what you are doing in relation to this particular matter.