Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Hume, I move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes the recent reports on the handling of privileged documents by the Department of Parliamentary Services, and decisions by the Secretary of the Department to provide these documents to a third party without reference to the Senate or the House of Representatives; and

(b) the following matters be referred to the Privileges Committee for inquiry and report by 10 March 2026:

(i) the current processes and policies for handling and maintaining documents, communications and technology that may be subject to a claim or parliamentary privilege, with particular reference to:

(A) the Department of Parliamentary Services' policies and procedures relating to parliamentary privilege,

(B) the management of documents, communications and technology with respect to maintaining parliamentary privilege, and

(C) any arrangement, agreement or memorandum of understanding with a third party, agency or department in relation to the provision of documents that may be subject to a claim of parliamentary privilege,

(ii) the actions taken by the Department of Parliamentary Services in the provision of documents, communications or technology to any third party outside of a memorandum of understanding, or agreement that has been agreed to by the Commonwealth Houses of Parliament, and

(iii) any other related matter.

Question agreed to.