QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (14:51): I'm happy to attempt an answer here, but I'm not sure how it relates to my role as the Minister for Finance. The senator's asking me around, essentially, a government position about engaging with a royal commission.

As Senator McKenzie would presumably know, the minister for infrastructure is the responsible minister who manages the agreements between states and territories around the delivery of infrastructure projects. The Department of Finance has a broad remit and a wide range of responsibilities, but, when it comes to infrastructure, the minister for infrastructure is responsible for that.

I'm also not sure I'm in a position to answer what a royal commission might seek from the Commonwealth. These are matters that are usually then responded to by the Attorney-General not the Minister for Finance. I don't know how much more helpful I can be, because I don't think either of the elements of Senator McKenzie's questions relate to the portfolio matters which I am here to respond for.

I can confirm that the minister for infrastructure has, in the federal financial agreement that is reached with the states and territories, sought transparency and accountability in relation to the Commonwealth dollars that are provided to states and territories and that delivery milestones in relation to those projects be provided to the Commonwealth, as you would expect in any provision of finances to a state or territory government.

The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?