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

I seek leave to amend general business motion of notice No. 250 to provide a due date of Thursday 22 June, rather than Tuesday 20 June.

Leave granted.

At the request of Senator Hume, I move the amended motion:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance, by no later than midday on Thursday, 22 June 2023:

(a) all departmental briefs, drafts or documents created in the Department of Finance relating to the preparation of the 'Procurement policy note—Ethical conduct of tenders and suppliers';

(b) all emails, text messages and other communications between the Minister and officials from the department or between the Minister's office and the department relating to the preparation of the 'Procurement policy note -Ethical conduct of tenders and suppliers'; 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.

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

This statement will also apply to the next motion as well. Senator Hume's OPDs are broad ranging and detailed and move beyond the common practice of what this chamber orders through a motion of this nature. There are other established legislative avenues for assessing detailed requests such as this, including established freedom-of-information processes. I would also note that this broad-ranging OPD is in the name of a former Morrison government minister, a government that consistently failed to produce documents in response to simple requests from the Senate. In anticipation of the coalition and the Greens joining together to support these motions, we will consider what can be provided within the nominated time frame.

Question agreed to.