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

At the request of Senator Paterson, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) order for production of documents no. 664 (the order) agreed to by the Senate on 19 November 2024, requiring the Minister representing the Prime Minister to table the completed report of the independent review of Commonwealth funding for strategic policy work led by Mr Peter Varghese AO (the Varghese Review), and all written submissions provided to the secretariat of the Varghese Review, has not been complied with, and

(ii) the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister stated in response to the order that the release could 'adversely impact comprehensive and candid discussion by ministers as part of Cabinet deliberations';

(b) rejects the grounds the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister has provided as to why the order cannot be complied with, noting that:

(i) the Senate should only accept a claim of public interest immunity on the basis of Cabinet confidentiality if it is established that disclosure of the documents sought would reveal Cabinet deliberations,

(ii) the disclosure of the documents that are the subject of the order does not constitute a disclosure of deliberations of Cabinet, and

(iii) the Government stating that it intends to release the Varghese Review at the appropriate time is not an acceptable ground to withhold information from the Senate; and

(c) requires the Minister representing the Prime Minister to comply with the order by no later than midday on 28 November 2024.

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.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-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

I appreciate that. The government is disappointed that Senator Paterson has chosen to proceed with this motion as it contains a number of incorrect statements and assertions, and we believe it should be withdrawn. I'm reminded of the words of Senator Birmingham, who told the Senate back in 2021:

The government holds the strong view that the documents and information sought would or could reasonably be expected to disclose the deliberations of the cabinet or a committee of the cabinet.

Question agreed to.