Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Tasmanian Senator Wendy Askew (Liberal) on behalf of Tasmanian Senator Jonathon Duniam (Liberal)

Motion text

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

(i) on 29 November 2024, access to documents was sought in relation to the Nature Positive bills currently before the Parliament under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act),

(ii) on 28 January 2025, Minister Plibersek's office responded, advising that 6 documents (totalling 42 pages) related to the request, with access refused in part to an email and letter from Minister Plibersek's office to Senator Hanson-Young, and an email and letter from Minister Plibersek's office to Senator David Pocock (document nos 2 and 4), based on section 47C of the FOI Act, a public interest conditional exemption relating to deliberative processes, and

(iii) the Senate is not subject to such deliberative processes exemptions; and

(b) there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, by no later than 4 pm on 6 February 2025, the following documents:

(i) document no. 2 in Attachment A to the FOI decision with the description 'email and letter from Minister's office to Senator Hanson Young', dated 25 November 2024, and

(ii) document no. 4 in Attachment A to the FOI decision with the description 'email and letter from Minister's office to Senator Pocock', dated 25 November 2024.