Lead Government Senator Says Quality is Key

Godwin Hulse

Wrapping up the debate, Senate leader of government business Godwin Hulse conceded that the bill was perhaps out of time, but he pointed out that there are other means of assessing the figures involved. And, he added, the value received on the ground was the most important factor of all.

Godwin Hulse, Leader of Government Business

“When you look at the details, and we talk about transparency and accountability – I have already accepted the failure in terms of the timeline. But transparency – it’s presented; accountability – it’s added up. And the officer – it’s not the Senate that checks on the expenditure or the House, on detail of the executive – it’s the Auditor General who’s an officer of the National Assembly, who then goes and audits and says, ‘you see that figure you presented was wrong,’ and then we have a problem. And then I will say finally: if anybody thinks that – and B.I.L. has stood out – then we look at value received, because the argument in this chamber, Mr. President, the argument in the House, the argument in the political debate that we have always had across this nation is value received.”

The bill was passed on its third reading.