Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. I refer to the release of ministerial diaries by the Attorney-General and the Treasurer detailing their first 100 days in office. The Attorney-General, Mr Dreyfus, has said, 'I'm going to continue to work with colleagues and across the Public Service on making sure that there is as much transparency as possible about our government information and ministerial diaries.' Minister, given the commitment of the Attorney-General to create 'as much transparency as possible about ministerial diaries', why is the Prime Minister refusing to release his diary, putting him at odds with his own Attorney-General and Treasurer?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I assume these are FOI claims or requests, not one of the many orders for production that seem to be occurring at the moment. Obviously, every freedom-of-information request is distinct and has to be considered on its merits, and every minister will have to respond to requests in a manner that is appropriate to those individual circumstances. I'm not the FOI decision-maker, but I know that FOI decision-makers obviously will have to make a judgement on the basis of the merits of the application before them.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, first supplementary?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, does the government have a government policy regarding the release of ministerial diaries? If so, what is it?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government observes the provisions of the freedom-of-information legislation, and applications are processed in accordance with that legislation. That's the—

Well, that is the appropriate way in which these matters should be dealt with.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Second supplementary, Senator Birmingham?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the Minister representing the Prime Minister aware that FOI applications for ministerial diaries remain outstanding for some other ministers, including herself? Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs be releasing her diary and adopting the Attorney-General's approach to transparency, or will she be joining the Prime Minister in thumbing her nose at the Attorney-General?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Here we go again—Senator Birmingham's new-found interest in transparency! I bet you didn't release yours, did you, mate? You didn't release yours, and nor did anyone release the ministerial list that showed the secret ministries that the Morrison government was engaged in, nor did anyone release the details of Senator McKenzie using spreadsheets to allocate government moneys, nor did anyone release how it is that you funded car parks which people didn't want. So the Australian people, I think, will look at you and your questions, as a former member of the leadership group who helped cover up all of this, and they will look with a very clear eye at the hypocrisy on the other side of the table.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, point of order?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the question of direct relevance, the minister has spent 51 seconds talking about the former government in answer to a question about whether or not she would comply with an FOI request for her own diary, and just meet the same standards as the Attorney-General, or thumb her nose, like the PM has.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, you've made the point of order. I'll direct the minister to—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Senator McGrath and Senator Birmingham, I'm responding to the point of order. Minister, I will direct you to that part of the question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Decisions will be made in accordance with the freedom-of-information legislation.