Senate debates Questions without Notice
Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
2:07 pm
My question is to the Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator Colbeck. In response to the Senate order for the production of documents No. 387, regarding the colour coded spreadsheet such as I am holding here, the minister tabled a heavily redacted document, preventing projects from being identified and the government's decisions from being appropriately scrutinised by the parliament. What is the basis for the minister's claim of public interest immunity on this redacted information?
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians
2:08 pm
I thank Senator Farrell for the question. The reason for the redaction is in the letter I presented to the parliament.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
Can the minister explain how it is in the public interest to redact not only the identity of unsuccessful applications to this program but also the details of projects they were seeking to fund? What does the minister not want the Australian public to know?
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians
2:09 pm
I refer the senator to my previous answer.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
What discussions did the minister have with the Prime Minister or his office prior to claiming public interest immunity?
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians
I consulted with a number of colleagues' offices with respect to the tabling of those documents, as appropriate, because some of the documents that were tabled had—
Scott Ryan President
Order, Senator Colbeck! Senator Wong on a point of order?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
The point of order is direct relevance. The question is specifically about conversations with the Prime Minister and his office.
Scott Ryan President
The minister has been speaking for 11 seconds. He was talking about his discussions with other ministerial offices. I'm not going to say that is not directly relevant, because he has only been speaking for 11 seconds. The minister to continue.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Senator Colbeck, you're free to continue.
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians
Thank you, Mr President. As I was saying, I consulted with a number of colleagues' offices in the preparation of the documents for the return to order for the order for the production of documents, because the order for the production of documents related to a number of colleagues' offices including the Prime Minister's.
Senator Wong interjecting—
Scott Ryan President
The minister has concluded his answer, Senator Wong.