Senate debates

Monday, 2 March 2026

Documents

Budget; Order for the Production of Documents

5:09 pm

Photo of Barbara PocockBarbara Pocock (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move general business notice of motion No. 338:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance and for the Public Service, by no later than midday on Tuesday, 31 March 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, calculations and modelling in relation to the Government's $6.8 billion of savings through reducing spending on external labour and other non-wage expenses like travel, hospitality and property, identified on page 215 of the 2025-26 mid-year economic and fiscal outlook.

Photo of Anthony ChisholmAnthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment.

Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Anthony ChisholmAnthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development) Share this | | Hansard source

I move an amendment to general business notice of motion No. 338:

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 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.

Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Chisholm to general business notice of motion No. 338, standing in the name of Senator Barbara Pocock, be agreed to.

5:15 pm

Photo of Sue LinesSue Lines (President) Share this | | Hansard source

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 338 standing in the name of Senator Barbara Pocock be agreed to.