Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to associate myself with the remarks of Senator Jordan Steele-John and Senator Reynolds. The point I would particularly like to make is about the flimsy basis upon which this public interest immunity claim is being made—the issue of supposed prejudice between Commonwealth and state government relations. How is it going to prejudice Commonwealth and state government relations? Who at a state government level is objecting or has objected to the release of this information? What is the basis of this claim? There is no substance to this claim. It's a political excuse. It's a political assertion of public interest immunity, and it's simply unacceptable that the Senate—and, through the Senate, the people of Australia, especially the people who Senator Steele-John spoke so passionately for: those Australians who are on the scheme or are seeking to go on the scheme—is denied this information. It's simply not good enough.