National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan

Larissa Waters

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) order for the production of documents no. 57, relating to the National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan, was agreed to by the Senate on 30 July 2025,

(ii) on 26 August 2025, the Senate agreed to an order:

(A) rejecting the public interest immunity claims made by the minister, and

(B) requiring the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy to comply with the order by 9 am on 27 August 2025;

(iii) on 27 August 2025, the minister advised that he maintains the public interest immunity claim, including on the basis that 'unless Ministers can be assured of the confidentiality of Cabinet meetings, they may not speak freely or honestly between themselves and may be more likely to suppress their views on present policies that may be unpopular or politically embarrassing',

(iv) the disclosure of the documents sought would not disclose instances in which ministers spoke freely or honestly between themselves or expressed views on policies that may be unpopular or politically embarrassing, nor is it apparent how disclosure could impact the ability of ministers to so speak or express views in future Cabinet meetings, and

(v) the order has still not been complied with; and

(b) requires the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy to attend the Senate at midday on Tuesday, 2 September 2025, to provide an explanation of no more than 5 minutes, of the failure to comply with the order, and that:

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

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

Slade Brockman

The question is that general business notice of motion 129, moved by Senator Waters, be agreed to.