University Merger

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): A supplementary: the Treasurer in his response described there being sufficient room for there to be a contribution to the university merger. Given that, has the cabinet determined the quantum that would be available for such a contribution and, indeed, has the government talked about that contribution to the universities?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer) (14:19): I'm clearly not going to disclose what cabinet has considered or what the discussions have been in cabinet, but I can reaffirm my advice to the house that the government is comfortable, as we have gone about the process of framing the budget, that should we need to make a contribution towards a merged institution, on the basis that the two institutions separately agree to pursue a merger and that we understand the basis of those decisions that they respectively take and what their expectations of government are, we have put the budget together on the basis that we would have sufficient capacity to make a contribution towards those efforts.