Budget Process Operational Rules

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Tasmanian Senator Wendy Askew (Liberal) on behalf of Victorian Senator Jane Hume (Liberal). This means it succeeded.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) order for production of documents no. 123 was agreed by the Senate on 7 February 2023, requiring the Minister for Finance to table documents relating to the current Budget Process Operational Rules (BPORs),

(ii) Minister Gallagher wrote to the President of the Senate on 8 February 2023 stating that "I note that the previous BPORs were released after the 2022-23 October Budget process was completed, in the interests of transparency and accountability. Once the 2023-24 Budget is delivered, the Government will consider further requests for the BPORs",

(iii) Minister Gallagher told the Senate on 9 February 2023 that "we did what the Senate asked last time and released them after the budget. I think that's fair and reasonable",

(iv) Minister Gallagher told the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee on 14 February 2023 that "My decision is to not release it until the budget process is finished", and

(v) the 2023-24 Budget has now been released; and

(b) while noting the repeated failure of Minister Gallagher to comply with this order, despite the Senate's previous affirmation of it, and her continued rhetoric about transparency, resolves to:

(i) re-affirm its agreement to the order; and

(ii) require the Minister to comply with the order as soon as possible, and by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 11 May 2023.