Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Shortly after 4.25 pm yesterday the Senate agreed to an opposition motion that ordered the production of documents relating to electoral law changes, but that motion ordered that documents be tabled no later than 9.30 am this morning. Labor senators have questioned, today, why the documents sought were not tabled by the designated time. Senator Ryan explained that officials have been working without delay to search for any documents potentially covered by the order and he informed the Senate that the response would be tabled as soon as possible today, which I have now done.

This afternoon, at 12.17, the Senate also agreed to a motion that ordered the production of documents recording the agreement between the government and the Australian Greens relating to changes to Senate voting. This order required the documents be tabled no later than 2.00 pm today. There are no such documents recording such an agreement. I have now tabled my response to both orders, which includes those documents relevant to the first of those orders.

Opposition senators interjecting—