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

I move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

(i) on 20 March 2023, the Senate agreed to order for the production of documents no. 176 in relation to discretionary payments made by the Department of Finance to the Australian Labor Party, and

(ii) the Special Minister of State responded on 27 March 2023, but failed to comply with the order and did not raise a public interest immunity claim; and

(b) there be laid on the table by the Special Minister of State, by no later than 8 April 2023, all documents in relation to applications or payments made under the Australian Political Parties for Democracy program, the Voter Information Security Enhancement grant program and the Political Party Secretariat training program in the 2021-22 financial year and the 2022-23 financial year to date.

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.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is leave granted? 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. Payments made under these programs are already publicly disclosed through the normal processes. This information can be found in the relevant annual returns on the publicly available AEC transparency register. I know the Special Minister of State, Minister Farrell, would welcome the opportunity to assist the senator in finding this publicly available information rather than taking up the Senate's time on this occasion.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that General Business Notice of Motion No. 213, standing in the name of Senator Roberts, be agreed to.