Senator KEMP (Assistant Treasurer)(1.57 p.m.) —We are always happy to answer your questions, Senator Cook. I just repeat myself: I will continue to remind you of your performance in government. I think that is a perfectly fair and reasonable response, and you would expect that.

The amendments which we are debating—I think they are Senate amendments 6, 7, 8 and 9—allow for the possibility of the departments of Treasury and Finance costing policies for the government and opposition in the caretaker period prior to an election. Further, the amendments allow for the making of requests for costings by the Leader of the Opposition to be authorised by the Prime Minister but that the details of the policies being costed need not be disclosed to the Prime Minister. They also provide for the details of policies—

Senator Cook —They may be!

Senator KEMP —Look, you have asked a question, Senator, and I am giving you a detailed answer. As soon as you are given a detailed answer, you start butting in and interjecting. Where are your manners, Senator Cook?

Senator Jacinta Collins —You're kidding! You jest!

Senator KEMP —Now you have behind you a chorus of ill-mannered people butting in.

Senator Lundy interjecting—

Senator KEMP —There is another one. They also provide that the details of policies, the subject of a request by the Leader of the Opposition, shall not be disclosed by the secretaries to the departments of the Treasury and Finance to anyone not authorised by the Leader of the Opposition. The secretaries, of course, may decline to prepare costings under any request where they consider that policy advice is being sought.

We do not consider that these amendments should proceed. The amendments will result in a loss of transparency in the costing process. The lack of transparency under the amendments is also inconsistent with clause 31 of the bill. This clause requires that all policy costings be made public by the secretaries to the departments as soon as practicable before polling day. As the request for the costing of unannounced policies would be permitted, requests could be made for a range of alternative policy options to be costed. The short answer is that that is why we are opposing them. If they are public policies you wish to have costed, you can pass them to the Prime Minister, who can then pass them to the departments.

Progress reported.