Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the minister explain why the Albanese government's full compliance rate with orders for the production of documents has plummeted to just 17 per cent in the current parliament?

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

Thank you, Senator McDonald, for the question. I would make the point that this parliament passes many more requirements on the government of the day than any previous government. An interesting statistic is that, since the last election, more orders for the production of documents have been agreed to in 19 sitting days than in the parliaments of the Fisher, the Hughes, the Bruce, the Scullin, the Lyons, the Page, the first Menzies, the Fadden, the Curtin, the Forde, the Chifley, the second Menzies, the Holt, the McEwen, the Gorton, the McMahon, the Whitlam, the Fraser and Hawke governments combined. So I would make the point that the way in which this chamber chooses to use OPDs—as someone who has been here a very long time—is, frankly, far more extensive and more onerous and with a much lower bar to put up an OPD than in any previous parliament. We have sought to comply with the orders which have been placed upon us, but I would make the point that, if you continue at this rate, there is no government that can meet this volume of OPDs as this Senate is putting in place in its entirety. It's as simple as that. If you have more in the last period than during all of those governments put together, it does tell you something about what the Senate is choosing to do.

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

Senator McDonald, first supplementary?

Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that 43 per cent of orders for documents in the current parliament have not yet been complied with at all—the highest rate of noncompliance across at least three parliaments—does the minister accept that Labor is systematically blocking the Senate's right to scrutinise government decisions, and when will the government comply with the outstanding 40 orders?

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

This government has complied with the most OPDs of any government in Australia's history.

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

Senator McDonald, second supplementary?

Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the Albanese government has raised public interest immunity claims in relation to 54 per cent of all orders that have been partially or not complied with in this parliament, with 'cabinet deliberations' being claimed in 62 per cent of those cases. In 2020, you said:

The government can't simply make that claim, because the document was walked through a cabinet room or has the word 'cabinet' on it.

Do you still agree with that statement?

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

Thank you. My recollection was that there were stories about your government just rolling trolleys into the cabinet room in order to claim cabinet confidentiality. What I can say to you, in terms of what I have seen—

It may not be true, Senator McKenzie. It was folklore.

Did she just say I was right? She might have just said I was right. What I can say to you, Senator, is that as a cabinet minister, from what I have seen where that has been claimed—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Shut Murray up!

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

Order!

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

Sorry, do people want an answer or not? Murray. There you go. From what I have seen as a senior cabinet minister in this government, when we have claimed cabinet-in-confidence, I believe that has been legitimate. I really do. You may chuckle, but I believe it is true. What I would say to you is that I know—I almost want to ask for an extension of time. (Time expired)