Gus: Turnbull 'saved' $40 million …..

Malcolm Turnbull says the $10 million grant was only one fifth of what was requested for the trail. (AAP: Mark Graham). 

The Federal Government says Shadow Treasurer Malcolm Turnbull has some explaining to do over an generous grant he made at the start of last years election campaign.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says Mr Turnbull granted $10 million to a corporation for the trial of new rainfall enhancement technology when his department recommended they only be given $2 million. 'That grant was five times the recommended amount of money that his department put forward,' he said. 

'Secondly Mr Turnbull signed off on that grant one day after the announcement of the election campaign in October and two days before the close of the writs.' 

But Mr Turnbull says Mr Swan is not telling the whole story and that those conducting the trial wanted $50 million. 'The University of Queensland, they regarded it as promising which would have cost $50 million,' he said. 'The national water commission didn't want to have a trial at all which would have cost about $2 million.' 

Turnbull Defends $10m Pre-Election Grant 

Gus: Most experts on the subject of rain 'making' said that this experiment was highly suspect and would not work. But in fact it worked to flush 10 million buckaroos towards the project... 50 millions? Pull the other leg... 

'So I committed to a trial which would have cost $10 million which was one fifth of what the University of Queensland was recommending.'