Department of Finance

Wendy Askew

At the request of Senator Hume, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) on 7 February 2023, the Senate agreed to order for production of documents no. 123 (the order), requiring the Minister representing the Treasurer to table a copy of the current Budget Process Operational Rules (BPORs) used on the formation of the 2023-24 Budget and associated documents by midday on 8 February 2023,

(ii) on 8 February 2023, the Minister representing the Treasurer made a public interest immunity claim over the documents sought by the order, and

(iii) on 28 November 2022, the Government complied with an order for the production of documents of 23 November 2022 (87—Budget 2022-23—Budget Process Operational Rules), which was substantively the same;

(b) resolves to:

(i) reject the claim of public interest immunity over the documents sought in the order by the Minister representing the Treasurer,

(ii) reaffirm its agreement to the order, and

(iii) require the Minister representing the Treasurer to comply with the order as soon as possible, and by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 9 February 2023.

Katy Gallagher

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher

We'll be opposing this motion. We released the last BPORs after the last budget as a sign of transparency and accountability. That information was made public. What the Senate's now asking for is that we release our operational rules for how we're putting our budget together before our budget is put together. I am saying that is unreasonable. We did what the Senate asked last time and released them after the budget. I think that's fair and reasonable, but asking me to release the guidelines that we have in place whilst our budget is being put together is clearly asking for a document that's in the deliberation stages and subject to cabinet and ERC consideration.

I would note that those opposite never did anything like this when they were in government. They would never have released anything to do with the budget, and now they've got a new standard: we have to do it before the budget is handed down. Please, Senate, be reasonable if we're trying to be more accountable and transparent.

Sue Lines

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 156 standing in the name of Senator Hume be agreed to.