Senate debates Documents
Housing Australia; Order for the Production of Documents
Wendy Askew Tasmania, Liberal Party
5:55 pm
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move:
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) order for the production of documents no. 198 agreed to by the Senate on 28 October 2025 and requesting that the Minister representing the Minister for Housing table the Housing Australia Board meeting minutes from September 2023 to October 2025, was only partially complied with,
(ii) the requested documents were significantly redacted and no basis for these redactions was provided, and
(iii) the release of the requested documents informs the effectiveness of a government agency to deliver an $80 billion housing agenda; and
(b) requires the Minister representing the Minister for Housing to comply with the order by no later than midday on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
Anthony Chisholm Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development
by leave—I move:
Paragraph (b), omit "comply with the order", substitute "provide a letter outlining the basis for the redactions".
Sue Lines President
The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Chisholm to general business notice of motion no. 345 be agreed to.
Sue Lines President
6:01 pm
The question is that general business notice of motion No. 345 standing in the name of Senator Bragg be agreed to.
Wendy Askew Tasmania, Liberal Party
6:05 pm
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move:
That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, by no later than midday on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, Housing Australia's risk register as at 1 January 2026.
Anthony Chisholm Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development
by leave—I move:
At the end of the motion, add ", with appropriate redactions, noting that documents of this kind usually contain commercially sensitive information".
Sue Lines President
The question is the amendment to General Business Notice of Motion No. 346 standing in the name of Senator Bragg, moved by Senator Chisolm, be agreed to.
Sue Lines President
6:10 pm
The question is that general business notice of motion No. 346, standing in the name of Senator Bragg, be agreed to.
Wendy Askew Tasmania, Liberal Party
6:13 pm
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move:
That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, by no later than midday on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, any documents that relate to Housing Australia's expenditure on furniture since November 2023.
Anthony Chisholm Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development
by leave—I move:
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.
Sue Lines President
The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Chisholm to general business notice of motion No. 347, standing in the name of Senator Bragg, be agreed to.
Sue Lines President
6:19 pm
The question now is that general business notice of motion No. 347, standing in the name of Senator Bragg, be agreed to.