David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

(1) That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 5 December 2024, the following documents held by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) relating to a matter involving Thales (the subject of Auditor-General's report no. 47 of 2023-24) and the contract subject to this review, including:

(a) the terms of reference of any NACC review;

(b) all documents relating to the declaration of conflicts of interest, including all documents, emails and briefings that relate to management of conflicts of interest; and

(c) all communications to and from the Department of Defence and the NACC regarding Defence's review of the matter.

(2) That once received by the Clerk or the President, documents returned and any correspondence responding to the order shall be deemed to have been presented to the Senate, and publication of the documents is authorised.

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

I seek leave to make a very 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

On 13 November 2024 the NACC published a note on its website stating that the referral from the Department of Defence relating to the Thales contract remained under consideration in accordance with the commission's usual processes. As such, it would be inappropriate to demand information about the NACC's consideration of this matter, because it could interfere with an ongoing NACC process. The parliament has legislated robust oversight of the NACC, in the form of the joint committee and the inspector, plus the normal accountability mechanisms of the Senate. All of us in this place have a responsibility to safeguard the independence of the NACC and the integrity of its activities, so the government will not be supporting this motion.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question before the Senate is that general business No. 713, an order for the production of documents standing in the name of Senator Shoebridge, be agreed to.