Department of Finance: Discretionary Payments

The majority voted against a motion:

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

(i) on 20 March 2023, the Senate agreed to order for the production of documents no. 176 in relation to discretionary payments made by the Department of Finance to the Australian Labor Party, and

(ii) the Special Minister of State responded on 27 March 2023, but failed to comply with the order and did not raise a public interest immunity claim; and

(b) there be laid on the table by the Special Minister of State, by no later than 8 April 2023, all documents in relation to applications or payments made under the Australian Political Parties for Democracy program, the Voter Information Security Enhancement grant program and the Political Party Secretariat training program in the 2021-22 financial year and the 2022-23 financial year to date.