20th Oct 2021, 5:03 PM – Senate Documents - Urban Congestion Fund - Order for the Production of Documents

The majority voted in favour of a motion to produce certain documents (see below) in parliament. It was introduced by Victorian Senator Janet Rice (Greens).

Motion text

(1) That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, by no later than 11.15 am on Thursday, 21 October 2021, the following documents discussed during a public hearing of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee on 19 July 2021:

(a) any email or document setting out the list of 'top twenty marginal seats' to be 'canvassed' for projects as part of the Urban Congestion Fund (UCF), as referred to by Mr Brian Boyd of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in the Committee Hansard;

(b) any spreadsheets created by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development for the purpose of setting out proposed UCF projects, as referenced in paragraphs 2.30 to 2.32 of the ANAO's report, Administration of commuter car park projects within the UCF;

(c) any spreadsheets created by, originating in, or shared between the Prime Minister's office and the offices of the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, or any other minister, setting out proposed UCF projects, as referenced in paragraphs 2.30 to 2.32 of the ANAO's report, Administration of commuter car park projects within the UCF; and

(d) any maps or attached schedules referred to by Mr Boyd of the ANAO in the Committee Hansard, setting out where the projected UCF expenditure would take place and the party affiliation of the seats in which that expenditure would occur.

(2) In the event that the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts fails to table the documents in full compliance with the order, the Senate orders that:

(a) the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts attend the Senate at 3 pm on Thursday, 21 October 2021, to provide an explanation of no more than 10 minutes, of the Government's response to the order contained in paragraph (1) or for an explanation of the Government's failure to comply with the order;

(b) in the event that the minister provides an explanation, any senator may move to take note of the minister's explanation;

(c) in the event that the minister does not respond to the order or provide an explanation, any senator may move to take note of the minister's failure to provide either a response or an explanation; and

(d) any motion under paragraph (c) may be debated for no longer than 60 minutes and have precedence over all government business until determined, and senators may speak to the motion for no more than 10 minutes each.