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

My question, with minimal notice, is to Senator Watt, representing the Attorney-General. Former Senator Rex Patrick is in the Federal Court challenging the Information Commissioner for unreasonable days in dealing with freedom of information reviews. These delays impact everyone who is trying to get answers from the government. While in opposition, now Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus provided an affidavit supporting Patrick's case. Despite this, under the now new Attorney-General, the Commonwealth continues to oppose the case. As at 1 August 2022 the total external legal costs incurred by the Commonwealth in opposing Patrick's case were a whopping $301,667.12. Consistent with the sworn affidavit of now Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and noting that some matters remain unresolved, more than 1,000 days after referral, will Labor now support the case of former Senator Patrick to prevent unreasonable delays in dealing with freedom of information reviews?