Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Hume, I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Women, by no later than midday on Thursday, 15 June 2023:

(a) all correspondence between the Minister for Women and the Prime Minister regarding the appointment of members of the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce;

(b) all briefings from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Minister for Women concerning the appointment of members of the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce; and

(c) any related documents.

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

I welcome Senator Hume's interest in the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce. Establishing the task force was a Labor election commitment, and we prioritised the delivery of this promise. The members of this task force have worked hard, and the government thanks them for that work. During the Finance and Public Administration Legislative Committee's estimates hearing on 25 May, Minister Gallagher took questions on notice from the opposition on this exact matter. We will be opposing this OPD on the basis that we are still working through those questions on notice within the established estimates time frames for response. Senator Hume's motion would require those same documents to be produced tomorrow, and this is not a reasonable time frame to allow the government appropriate consideration of the details. We'll continue to work through the questions taken on notice at estimates. I urge senators to consider this when voting on this motion.

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

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 234 standing in the name of Senator Hume be agreed to.