Senate debates

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Documents

Parliamentary Service Commissioner; Order for the Production of Documents

4:43 pm

Photo of Malcolm RobertsMalcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the President, by no later than 5 pm on Wednesday, 30 July 2025, the report in relation to the former Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services, Mr Rob Stefanic, provided by the Parliamentary Service Commissioner to the presiding officers in 2024.

Photo of Paul ScarrPaul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Paul ScarrPaul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | | Hansard source

An order for the production of documents can be directed to information held by the Department of Parliamentary Services in the same way as for information held by executive departments and agencies. Usually, orders are directed to ministers, and the DPS equivalent would be the President. The coalition's preference is that the President and Senator Roberts resolve this issue outside of the OPD process. However, we will be supporting this motion, as the department should be subject to the same standards of transparency and accountability as we expect of government departments.

Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, could I just add that the OPD relates to a document the President, not DPS, holds. The question is that general business notice of motion No. 52, standing in the name of Senator Roberts, be agreed to.