Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 124 before asking that it be taken as a formal motion. The amendment changes the return date from 9 February to 9 March.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance, by no later than 5 pm on 9 March 2023, the total cost in relation to the recalling of Parliament for the unscheduled sitting on 15 December 2022, including a breakdown of the costs in relation to the following categories:

(a) parliamentarian travel allowance;

(b) parliamentarian airfares;

(c) parliamentarian Commonwealth car, cabcharge and rideshare expenses;

(d) staff travel allowance;

(e) staff airfares;

(f) staff cabcharge and rideshare expenses;

(g) any additional staffing requirements (including, but not limited to, security services, attendants, restaurants and catering staff); and

(h) any other costs in relation to the recalling of Parliament.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

The government will be opposing this motion. The costs described in Senator Roberts's motion will be disclosed in the normal process through public expenditure reporting when PEMS functionality resumes. As Senator Roberts would know, during routine public expenditure reporting, parliamentarians and their officers have an opportunity to examine their expenditure to ensure all costs are true and correct. Officers have not yet had a chance to properly examine this expenditure. Accurate reporting of parliamentary expenses is a key pillar of our transparent democratic system and is essential to ensure the proper use of Commonwealth funds.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the chamber is that the motion moved by Senator Roberts, No. 124, be agreed to.