Workplace Relations

Fatima Payman

I move:

GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 311

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, copies of all ministerial submissions, records of conversation, letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, file notes, meeting invitations, meeting notes, meeting minutes, emails and instant/electronic messages created after 1 January 2025 between the Minister for Home Affairs and/or his office, the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Federal Police in relation to:

(a) the reference of apparent breaches of subsection 327A(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009 to the Australian Federal Police by the Fair Work Ombudsman; and

(b) the initiation of investigations or legal proceedings by the Australian Federal Police in relation to apparent breaches of subsection 327A(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009.

GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 312

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, copies of all ministerial submissions, records of conversation, letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, file notes, meeting invitations, meeting notes, meeting minutes, emails and instant/electronic messages created after 1 January 2025 between the Attorney-General and/or her office, the Attorney-General's Department and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to:

(a) the reference of apparent breaches of subsection 327A(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009 to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions by the Fair Work Ombudsman; and

(b) the initiation of investigations or legal proceedings by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to apparent breaches of subsection 327A(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009.

GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 313

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, copies of all ministerial submissions, records of conversation, letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, file notes, meeting invitations, meeting notes, meeting minutes, emails and instant/electronic messages created after 1 January 2025 between the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and/or her office, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Fair Work Ombudsman in relation to:

(a) the processing of complaints to the Fair Work Ombudsman in relation to apparent breaches of subsection 327A(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009;

(b) the investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman of apparent breaches of subsection 327A(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009; and

(c) the reference of apparent breaches of subsection 327A(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009 to the Australian Federal Police and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Anthony Chisholm

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm

The government will be opposing these motions. The scope of these orders includes all ministerial submissions, records of conversation, letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, file notes, meeting invitations, meeting notes, meeting minutes, emails and instant electronic messages. It is a fishing expedition and a misuse of one of the Senate's most serious powers.

Sue Lines

The question is that general business notices of motion Nos 311 to 313, standing in the name of Senator Payman, be agreed to.