Fatima Payman (WA, Australia's Voice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 11 December 2025:

(a) copies of all ministerial submissions, records of conversation, letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, file notes, meeting invitations, meeting notes, meeting minutes, emails and instant/electronic messages between the Minister for Social Services and/or her office and the Department of Social Services in relation to the development of amendments to the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025 that introduced benefit restriction notices; and

(b) a document that contains an explanation as to why the amendments referred to in part (a) were not included in the bill when it was introduced.

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion, as already outlined to this chamber. The 48th Parliament has seen an increasingly inappropriate use of OPDs. Historically, OPDs have insisted on specificity or have sought a particular document. The scope of this OPD is so large it amounts to nothing more than a fishing expedition. The government encourages the senator to narrow the scope of their order. The number of OPDs has also doubled since the 2022 election, and the scope of these requests has also expanded significantly. The Senate has agreed an average of four OPDs per sitting day in the 48th Parliament, double the average of two per sitting day in the 47th Parliament and almost four times the average in the last term of the coalition government. On 27 August 2025, the Senate agreed to 14 OPDs in a single day.

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

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 260, standing in the name of Senator Payman, be agreed to.