Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Hansard source

It remains the view of the government that national cabinet was established as a committee of cabinet and the documents and deliberations should remain confidential. On 17 September last year, the Prime Minister and all the leaders of state and territory governments made it clear that national cabinet has strengthened relationships by facilitating regular confidential discussions in the national interest, founded on the same principles of trust and confidence and collaboration which underpin state and territory and Commonwealth cabinets. Cabinet confidentiality is a longstanding principle of the Westminster system of government and a well-established ground for a claim of public interest immunity with respect to orders by the Senate.