Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Labor has long been supportive of greater scrutiny of the operations of the national cabinet, particularly through the Select Committee on COVID-19. Senator Patrick's motion reflects the frustrations of the opposition that the orders of the Senate continue to be refused. Given the ruling of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, it is not acceptable for the government to persist with the view that deliberations of national cabinet should remain confidential. Calling a body a cabinet does not make it the same as cabinet.

Labor does not support capricious action against ministers, and the penalties proposed in this motion should never be invoked on impost. However, we regard the persistent refusal of the government to provide information in these particular circumstances relating to national cabinet as unacceptable. We will be supporting the motion today in its entirety. For further evidence of the serious and systemic refusal of the government to respect and comply with the powers and conventions of the Senate, I refer senators to the third interim report of the Select Committee on COVID-19 which highlights the government's egregious aversions to accountability.