Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, by no later than 9.30 am on Thursday, 29 June 2023, any memorandums of understanding, protocols or other agreements between the Australian Government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia entered into between 1 January 2012 and 21 June 2023 which include reference to the trade in livestock by sea.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) 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

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

The government is not supporting this OPD. MOUs are documents developed between governments and typically agreed at ministerial level. Making government-to-government agreements public has the potential to cause damage to the international relations of the Commonwealth. This is about trust, and releasing such documents has the potential to undermine the government's relationship with other countries. Moreover, it would potentially prejudice the flow of confidential information between the Commonwealth and other countries because other countries would not have the confidence that the arrangements entered into with the Commonwealth would remain confidential.

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

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 265, standing in the name of Senator Faruqi, be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [12:06]

(The President—Senator Lines)