Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

(i) order for the production of documents no. 407, agreed by the Senate on 28 November 2023, requiring the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to table documents relating to the final report of the Independent strategic review of the Infrastructure Investment Program, August 2023,by no later than at the conclusion of question time on Wednesday, 29 November 2023, has not been complied with,

(ii) the Minister, in her response to the order, made a claim of public interest immunity on the basis that it would adversely affect Commonwealth-state relations; and

(b) the Senate rejects the public interest immunity claim made by the Minister, noting that:

(i) when a claim of public interest immunity is made on the basis that it would damage relations between the Commonwealth and states, the agreement of the states to disclose the information should be sought and they should be invited to give reasons for any objection, and

(ii) no such agreement has been sought following the making of the Senate order, nor has the Senate been advised of any objections from the states or territories;

(c) the Senate requires the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to comply with the order in full by no later than midday on 5 December 2023;

(d) if the order has not been complied with in full by midday on 5 December 2023, the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government be required to attend the Senate after motions to take note of answers that day, to provide an explanation, of not more than 5 minutes, of the failure to comply with the order;

(e) any senator may move to take note of the explanation required by paragraph (d); and

(f) any motion under paragraph (e) may be debated for no longer than 30 minutes, have precedence over all other business until determined, and senators may speak to the motion for not more than 10 minutes each.

Question agreed to.