Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move general business notices of motion Nos 53 to 55 together:

GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 53

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 21 August 2025:

(a) the complete text of any legal advice obtained or prepared concerning Australia's compliance with its obligations under international law relating to:

(i) genocide and the prevention of genocide, and/or

(ii) the occupied Palestinian territories, including decisions of United Nations bodies and the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion, dated 19 July 2024;

(b) the facts that went into preparing any legal advice;

(c) identification of the individual or entity who prepared the legal advice;

(d) dates on which the advice was commissioned, prepared and finalised;

(e) a list of all government officials and departments to whom the advice has been provided; and/or

(f) all written or digital correspondence (including all attachments to any written or digital correspondence), briefing materials, file notes, meeting notices or minutes or other records concerning any such legal advice.

GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 54

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Foreign Affairs by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 21 August 2025:

(a) the complete text of any legal advice obtained or prepared concerning Australia's compliance with its obligations under international law relating to:

(i) genocide and the prevention of genocide, and/or

(ii) the occupied Palestinian territories, including decisions of United Nations bodies and the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion, dated 19 July 2024;

(b) the facts that went into preparing any legal advice;

(c) identification of the individual or entity who prepared the legal advice;

(d) dates on which the advice was commissioned, prepared and finalised; and/or

(e) a list of all government officials and departments to whom the advice has been provided; and/or

(f) all written or digital correspondence (including all attachments to any written or digital correspondence), briefing materials, file notes, meeting notices or minutes or other records concerning any such legal advice.

GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 55

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 21 August 2025:

(a) the complete text of any legal advice obtained or prepared concerning Australia's compliance with its obligations under international law relating to:

(i) genocide and the prevention of genocide, and/or

(ii) the occupied Palestinian territories, including decisions of United Nations bodies and the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion, dated 19 July 2024;

(b) the facts that went into preparing any such legal advice;

(c) identification of the individual or entity who prepared the legal advice;

(d) dates on which the advice was commissioned, prepared and finalised;

(e) a list of all government officials and departments to whom the advice has been provided; and/or

(f) all written or digital correspondence (including all attachments to any written or digital correspondence), briefing materials, file notes, meeting notices or minutes or other records concerning any such legal advice.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement in relation to general business notices of motion Nos 53, 54 and 55.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will be opposing these motions. Australia acts in accordance with our obligations under international law. Throughout the war in Gaza, the government has been consistent in our demand that all parties must abide by international humanitarian law. Australia has long been part of an international call on Israel to comply with its international obligations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We have repeatedly called on Israel to comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including its provisional orders in South Africa's case against Israel. We work with partners to assert our position through sanctions, statements and resolutions, as well as diplomatic interventions and more than $110 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians devastated by the conflict. Consistent with the longstanding practice of successive Australian governments, the government does not disclose the details of any legal advice sought or received.

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

The question is that general business notices of motion Nos 53 to 55 be agreed to.