Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

Claims of public interest immunity made by ministers in response to orders for the production of documents balance transparency with a recognised position that there is information held by government that it would not be in the public interest to disclose. This includes documents that would put our national security or defence at risk, prejudice an investigation by a law enforcement agency or an ongoing judicial process or put public safety at risk. Senator Roberts proposes upending this process.

The Procedure Committee and other committees have already extensively inquired into the making of public interest immunity claims and the procedures for dealing them. I strongly encourage the opposition as a party of government to reconsider its support for these changes. In just the last parliament alone, those opposite issued claims of public interest immunity in response to 40 per cent of Senate orders for the production of documents. Now they are proposing to support Senator Roberts to erode these protections. The opposition should put responsibility ahead of political opportunity. (Time expired)