House debates

Wednesday, 6 September 2006

Treasury Documents

12:39 pm

Photo of Nicola RoxonNicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Gellibrand from moving the following motion: That this House:

(1)
notes the decision made this morning by the High Court of Australia in the case of McKinnon v Secretary, Department of Treasury;
(2)
condemns the Government for continuing to hide behind legal technicalities and misuse the Freedom of Information Act;
(3)
condemns the Treasurer for barring the release of Treasury documents that would reveal information that the Australian public has a right to know: relevant information on the impact of “bracket creep” and the operation of the First Home Owners Grant Scheme; and
(4)
calls on the Treasurer to be accountable and table those documents in the House so that the Australian people can have access to the information contained in them.

What is the government trying to hide by refusing to table these documents?

12:40 pm

Photo of Pat FarmerPat Farmer (Macarthur, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Science and Training) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

Question put.

12:48 pm

Photo of Joel FitzgibbonJoel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Revenue) Share this | | Hansard source

A tax grab cover-up by the world’s highest-taxing treasurer—

Photo of Pat FarmerPat Farmer (Macarthur, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Science and Training) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

Question put.