Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I have information from the Attorney-General to provide to the Senate in relation to a question I was asked by Senator McKim on Tuesday this week. The Attorney-General advises in relation to Senator McKim's question that there are court orders in place restricting the disclosure of the information in this matter. Those orders were made with the consent of the parties. The Attorney-General's Department is assisting in the management of the information that is subject to the court orders. I note more generally that, in any legal proceedings, the Attorney-General, another Commonwealth representative or any other party to those proceedings can seek orders to protect sensitive information. It is always at the discretion of the court, including where parties consent, as to whether to make such orders. In considering whether to do so, the court balances competing public interests, including the principle of open justice.