Senate debates

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Documents

Questions on Notice; Order for the Production of Documents

4:01 pm

Photo of James McGrathJames McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The original three motions from Senators Wong and Collins today relate to over 1,000 questions addressed to 11 ministers and 11 portfolios and would involve 14 government departments and other portfolio agencies. The government receives a large number of questions on notice in this place, in the other place and in parliamentary committees. Ministers, with the support of their departments, seek to answer questions as soon as practicable. Sometimes, particularly with complex questions which involve departments and agencies assembling a large amount of information, the time limits are not able to be met. The terms of these motions, if agreed to, would allow less than one working day to finalise answers to questions. To attempt to fully comply with the terms of these motions would involve an unreasonable diversion of resources for the government departments involved. Nevertheless, ministers will seek to lodge answers to as many of these questions as they can as soon as practicable.

Question agreed to.

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