Senate debates

Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Documents

Inspector-General of The Australian Defence Force; Order for the Production of Documents

3:39 pm

Photo of Jacqui LambieJacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that order for the production of documents no. 541 relating to the final report of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force twenty-year review has not been complied with;

(b) requires the Minister representing the Minister for Defence to comply with the order by no later than 5 pm on 3 July 2024; and

(c) requires that, should the order not be fully complied with by this time, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence attend the Senate at the conclusion of question time on 4 July 2024 to provide an explanation, of no more than 5 minutes, of the failure to comply with the order, and that:

(i) any senator may move to take note of the explanation; and

(ii) any such motion may be debated for no longer than 30 minutes, shall have precedence over all other business until determined, and senators may speak to the motion for not more than 5 minutes each.

Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | | Hansard source

The government won't be supporting this motion. The Deputy Prime Minister has stated in his letter to the Senate of 2 July 2024 that the independent review sought in this order is currently under consideration by government. As part of this consideration more time is needed to undertake consultations with stakeholders including Defence, other agencies and families of ADF personnel who have lost their lives while serving. The government intends to respond to the order once this process is complete. Also Senator Lambie was offered and had accepted a confidential briefing to the review before cancelling that just before giving notice of the original motion. The offer remains open to Senator Lambie to take up that briefing, and the government is willing to extend that offer to any interested senator.

Question agreed to.