Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to the order to produce documents, this government has complied with the order. We have provided a substantial amount of information in relation to the resolution that was passed by the Senate. If I could assist the Senate in understanding, the government also tabled additional information in relation to the material that had already been tabled. I also advise that, in the original documents we tabled, the government offered to provide the opposition and the Australian Greens senators and members with a confidential briefing delivered by Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, commander of Operation Sovereign Borders. To date, the opposition has taken up our offer and the shadow minister has received a confidential briefing from Lieutenant General Campbell. I advise the Senate, however, that no member of the Australian Greens has accepted the offer of a confidential briefing, despite the offer remaining open.

The government, as I said, has complied with the order for production of documents. In relation to the other documents for which the order calls, the government has clearly articulated in considerable detail the reasons as to why we do not believe it is in the public interest for these documents to be tabled. I note that Senator Carr will probably be speaking after me. For Senator Carr's benefit, I just remind him that his party, when they were in government, failed to comply with orders for the production of documents—not partly complied but failed to comply—on over 75 occasions.