Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 523, relating to compliance with an order for the production of documents.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) on 20 March 2024, order for the production of documents no. 493 was agreed by the Senate, requiring the Minister representing the Minister for Environment to table the documents regarding First Nations cultural heritage protection laws by no later than 8 April 2024,

(ii) in a letter of response tabled on 9 April 2024, the Minister stated that 'work is underway to compile the documents' and proposed to table the documents on 9 May 2024,

(iii) the order was not complied with by this date, and only following lodgement of a compliance motion did the minister respond to the order, and

(iv) a further letter was tabled on 15 May 2024, in which the minister made a public interest immunity claim on the basis that these documents would 'disclose and pre-empt the deliberations of Cabinet';

(b) rejects this public interest immunity claim, given the significant public interest of disclosing the documentation relating to First Nations cultural heritage reforms; and

(c) requires that the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water comply with order no. 493 by no later than midday on Friday, 24 May 2024.

Question agreed to.