QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:12): I thank Senator Bragg for his question. The first thing I would say about the ANAO is that they regularly and routinely investigate all government programs. As a government, one of the things we've done is increase the funding to the ANAO in order to ensure they can properly do their service to the country and audit all of these programs and make sure that ordinary Australians are getting value for the money that taxpayers invest in this government and in this country.

We're very happy that the ANAO are doing this audit. It's appropriate that they do it. Senator Bragg: I've a point of order on relevance.

The question was quite clearly asking about the cost being, in some cases, up to $1.3 million per dwelling and whether that was good value. The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg, you started your question with the Audit Office. The minister is being directly relevant to your question.

Senator FARRELL: I've had involvement with a number of ANAO cases, Senator Bragg; one of them was into the PEM system. For years and years I asked questions in estimates about how the PEM system was going. I was continually assured by the former government— Senator Bragg: I've a point of order on relevance.

The question was not about the PEM system. The question was about the $1.3 million house. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Bragg.

I will direct the minister back to your question. Senator FARRELL: You did ask about ANAO inquiries, Senator Bragg, and I was directly responding to that. The ANAO commenced this audit more than a month ago.

It's actually quite normal for a program with the size and the impact of the HAFF to be subject to an ANAO investigation. The ANAO performs between— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Bragg, first supplementary?