Economics References Committee

Wendy Askew

At the request of Senator Bragg, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) on 2 September 2025, the Senate agreed to order for the production of documents no. 140, and on 28 October 2025 order for the production of documents no. 195, ordering the production of the government response, in draft or final form, to the Economics References Committee report, dated July 2024, titled Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigation and enforcement,

(ii) in letters dated 3 September and 30 October 2025, the Treasurer stated that there were no documents in scope of either order,

(iii) on Thursday, 4 June 2026, during the Budget estimates hearings of the Economics Legislation Committee, in relation to the government response to the report, the Minister for Finance said 'It's not far… I'm trying to get advice. It doesn't directly relate to my portfolio, so I'm trying to get some advice for you. I understand it's not far away from being lodged', and

(iv) the orders have therefore not been complied with;

(b) affirms that the Senate has the power, arising from section 49 of the Constitution, to order the creation and production of documents not yet in existence, a view endorsed by the Privileges Committee in its 153rd report; and

(c) requires the Minister representing the Treasurer to comply with the orders by no later than midday on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.

Sue Lines

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 534 standing in the name of Senator Bragg be agreed to.

A division having been called and the bells being rung—

Senators, I will allow the bells to ring longer, but I do remind you it is a standing order that, when there is no debate following successive divisions, they are one-minute bells. It's a standing order. That is where we're up to. I have indicated I'll let the bells ring longer, but I did advise the Senate there would be one-minute bells.

Anne Ruston

Could I ask if you could perhaps review your previous determination so that, when the previous divisions have not been real, you actually always ring the bells for four minutes. If you could, just review that.

Sue Lines

The standing orders, Senator Ruston, do not refer to 'real'. We've had two four-minute bells. The question is that general business notice of motion No. 534 standing in the name of Senator Bragg be agreed to.