Budget

Barbara Pocock

I move general business notice of motion No. 338:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance and for the Public Service, by no later than midday on Tuesday, 31 March 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, calculations and modelling in relation to the Government's $6.8 billion of savings through reducing spending on external labour and other non-wage expenses like travel, hospitality and property, identified on page 215 of the 2025-26 mid-year economic and fiscal outlook.

Anthony Chisholm

I seek leave to move an amendment.

Sue Lines

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm

I move an amendment to general business notice of motion No. 338:

Omit all words after "That", substitute:

(a) orders for the production of documents is one of the Senate's most serious powers, and should be used when other processes have been exhausted rather than for fishing expeditions; and

(b) senators seeking to order the production of documents should consider paragraph (a) and refine their orders accordingly.

Sue Lines

The question is that the amendment as moved by Senator Chisholm to general business notice of motion No. 338, standing in the name of Senator Barbara Pocock, be agreed to.