Senate debates Documents
Cybersafety Legislation; Order for the Production of Documents
Fatima Payman WA, Australia's Voice
3:58 pm
I move:
That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, by no later than 5 pm on Friday, 12 December 2025, 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 Communications and/or her office, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts and the Office of the eSafety Commissioner in relation to expectations of a future legal challenge to the constitutional validity of Part 4A of the Online Safety Act 2021.
Anthony Chisholm Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Anthony Chisholm Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development
The government will oppose this motion. A briefing has been offered on this issue that I understand has not yet been accepted by the senator.
Sue Lines President
4:00 pm
The question is that general business notice of motion No. 284 standing in the name of Senator Payman be agreed to.
Fatima Payman WA, Australia's Voice
4:02 pm
I move:
That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance, by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, 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 Finance and/or her office, the Department of Finance and the Digital Transformation Agency in relation to non-compliance with the policy for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in government by Commonwealth departments and agencies.
Anthony Chisholm Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Anthony Chisholm Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development
The extremely broad scope of this order means that a substantial number of documents must be reviewed to consider whether they may be in scope. The scope of the order includes all ministerial submissions, records of conversations, letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, file notes, meeting invitations, meeting notes, meeting minutes, emails, instant messages and electronic messages across the Department of Finance, the Digital Transformation Agency and the minister and her office. These documents need to go through the proper and usual processes, and I expect that the minister will respond to the order in due course. But the government encourages the senator to narrow the scope of their order.
Sue Lines President
The question is that general business notice of motion No. 285, standing in the name of Senator Payman, be agreed to.