Senate debates

Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Documents

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents

3:57 pm

Photo of Wendy AskewWendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, by no later than midday on Monday, 1 September 2025, all volumes of the incoming government brief prepared by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for the incoming minister after the May 2025 federal election.

Question agreed to.

3:58 pm

Photo of Larissa WatersLarissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) order for the production of documents no. 57 relating to the National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan, was agreed to by the Senate on 30 July 2025,

(ii) ministers are expected to fully articulate why the release of a document will harm the public interest if an order is not complied with, including in relation to claims that a document is Cabinet-in-confidence, and

(iii) according to Odgers' Australian Senate Practice, for such a claim to be established it is necessary that disclosure of the document would reveal Cabinet deliberations;

(b) agrees that the minister has not sufficiently established that disclosure of the document would reveal actual Cabinet deliberations;

(c) rejects the public interest immunity claims made by the minister; and

(d) requires the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy to table all completed documents and data sets that make up the Government's National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan by 9 am on 27 August 2025.

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

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 106, standing in the name of Senator Waters, be agreed to.