Senate debates Documents

Board of Peace; Order for the Production of Documents


Fatima Payman

Fatima Payman WA, Australia's Voice

5:18 pm

I move:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by no later than 5 pm on Monday, 16 February 2026, 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 Foreign Affairs and/or her office and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to the invitation of Australia and the Prime Minister to join the Board of Peace, as established under United Nations Security Council resolution 2803.

Anthony Chisholm

Anthony Chisholm Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development

by leave—I move an amendment to the motion:

Omit all words after 'That', substitute:

(a) orders for the production of documents is one of the Senate's most serious powers, and should be used only when other processes have been exhausted rather than for fishing expeditions; and

(b) senators seeking to order the production of documents should consider paragraph (a) and refine their orders accordingly.

Sue Lines

Sue Lines President

The question is that the amendment as moved by Minister Chisholm to general business notice of motion No. 327, standing in the name of Senator Payman, be agreed to.

Sue Lines

Sue Lines President

5:26 pm

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 327, standing in the name of Senator Payman, be agreed to.