Attorney-General's Department

Claire Chandler

I, and on behalf of Senator Birmingham and Senator Paterson, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) order for the production of documents no. 472, agreed to by the Senate on 27 February 2024, requiring certain documents concerning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be provided to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has not been complied with, and

(ii) the Attorney-General has again advanced a claim of public interest immunity stating that the production of the documents that are within the scope of the order 'would, or might reasonably be expected to, disclose information that would be damaging to Australia's national security';

(b) rejects the public interest immunity claim advanced by the Attorney-General, noting that:

(i) the claim does not address the apprehended harm that could result from the provision of the documents to the PJCIS on a confidential basis, and

(ii) the Intelligence Services Act 2001 establishes offences for unauthorised disclosure of documents provided to the PJCIS for review; and

(c) requires the Minister representing the Attorney-General to comply with the order by no later than midday, on Monday, 25 March 2024.

Sue Lines

The question is that general business motion 501 standing in the name of Senators Birmingham, Paterson and Chandler, and moved by Senator Chandler, be agreed to.