Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I do. It is a matter of public record that this report was commissioned by the cabinet for the purposes of informing cabinet deliberation on how to deal with the very important issue of how to appropriately calibrate the protection of religious freedoms in Australia. The report was received in May. That is also a matter of public record. I would also just point out to the Senate that the deliberative process of cabinet does not just commence with the consideration of a final recommendation by cabinet. It, indeed, commences with the relevant minister turning his mind to the preparation of a cabinet submission and putting forward relevant recommendations. I refer you in particular to section 125(a)iii of the Cabinet Handbook, which is on the public record, which is in relation to cabinet documents. It makes very clear that cabinet documents are any materials 'prepared for the purpose of informing the cabinet'—which this, of course, was—and 'any other papers prepared for the consideration by or for the information of ministers in a cabinet or committee meeting, such as letters or reports, regardless of whether these documents are circulated in advance of the meeting or provided in the Cabinet Room'.