Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to respond to notice of motion No. 700, concerning orders for the production of documents Nos 563 and 676. Those motions sought the tabling of documents prepared by external consultants engaged to identify planning reforms that states and territories should consider under the Housing Accord.

The Treasurer's response to order No. 563 detailed the government's public interest immunity claim over a report on the grounds that disclosure of the document would have the potential to cause prejudice to future consultation and harm relations between the Commonwealth and the states.

In response to order No. 676, the Treasurer has again advised that one document has been identified as within scope. As the document had been considered by the Council on Federal Financial Relations, consultation with the states was undertaken. Several states explicitly objected to its release, citing the potential to harm collaborative relationships. Consequently, the government has again claimed public interest immunity in response to order No. 676 on the grounds that disclosure of the document would risk prejudicing future consultation and harming relations between the Commonwealth and the states.

The Commonwealth's partnership with states and territories underpins the federation, supported by $175 billion annually in federal funding. Releasing intergovernmental documents of this nature risks undermining trust, reducing the frankness of future consultations and compromising the delivery of initiatives like the Housing Accord. The government must balance the oversight role of the Senate against the imperative of protecting the integrity of intergovernmental co-operation. The Housing Accord represents a vital step forward towards addressing housing affordability, and our continued focus is on collaborative solutions supported by detailed reporting to the parliament. The Treasurer's public interest immunity claim is consistent with longstanding principles and necessitated by the sensitivities of intergovernmental relations.