Non-Disclosure Agreements

Lidia Thorpe

I move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

(i) on 3 October 2024, questions on notice nos 3633 to 3679 were submitted, requesting that ministers of all portfolios provide specific information relating to the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in this term of Parliament,

(ii) a number of ministers responded to questions with identical answers stating that 'governments of all persuasions have used non­-disclosure agreements (NDAs) from time to time to assist in the development of policies and legislative proposals' and multiple others responded that they did not keep 'centralised records', and

(iii) the answers to the questions provided by the ministers did not provide the information sought by the questions;

(b) there be laid on the table by the ministers to which the questions were directed, by midday on 27 November 2024, revised answers to questions on notice nos 3633 to 3679 (excluding questions on notice nos 3634, 3635, 3643, 3645, 3646, 3648, 3649, 3652, 3660, 3661, 3663, 3668 and 3672), placed on notice on 3 October 2024, that provide the information sought by the questions; and

(c) if this order has not been complied with by midday on 27 November 2024 the Senate requires the Minister representing the Prime Minister to attend the Senate at the conclusion of motions to take note of answers to provide an explanation, of no more than 5 minutes, of why the answers have not been provided, and that:

(i) any senator may move to take note of the explanation, and

(ii) the motion may be debated for no longer than 30 minutes, shall have precedence over all other business until determined, and senators may speak to the motion for not more than 5 minutes each.

Jonathon Duniam

Deputy President, could I ask that paragraphs (a) and (b) be put separately to paragraph (c) for this motion?

Andrew McLachlan

At the request of the opposition, I'm going to split the question, so there will be two questions. The first question is that paragraphs (a) and (b) of the motion moved by Senator Thorpe be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

The question now is that paragraph (c) of the motion moved by Senator Thorpe be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:21]

(The Deputy President—Senator McLachlan)

Question negatived.