7th Feb 2023, 3:56 PM – Senate Documents - Queensland: Infrastructure - Order for the Production of Documents

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Queensland Senator Penny Allman-Payne (Greens), which means it passed.

Motion text

That the Senate

(a) notes that:

(i) order for production of documents no. 69 (the order) agreed by the Senate on 27 October 2022, requiring the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to table documents in relation to The Gabba Stadium project and impacts on East Brisbane State School has not been complied with,

(ii) the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, in their response to the order, made a claim of public interest immunity on the basis that it would damage relations between the Commonwealth and states, citing concerns that disclosure of the information would harm the Commonwealth's ongoing relationship with a state government on this and future infrastructure arrangements;

(iii) on 24 November 2022, the Senate rejected the public interest immunity claim made by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government,

(iv) on 29 November 2022, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government maintained the same public interest immunity claim which was rejected by the Senate,

(v) when a claim of public interest immunity is made on the basis that it would damage relations between the Commonwealth and states, the agreement of the states to disclose the information should be sought and they should be invited to give reasons for any objection, and

(vi) no such agreement has been sought, nor has the Senate been advised of any objections from the Queensland Government;

(b) requires the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government to attend the chamber immediately prior to proposals being considered under standing order 75 on 8 February 2023, to provide an explanation, of no more than 5 minutes, of the failure to comply with the order, and why the Government has not complied with the motion (no. 92) concerning compliance with the order, which states 'the public has a right to know the details of, and deliberations on, infrastructure projects such as the Gabba Stadium project and impacts on surrounding infrastructure';

(c) any senator may move to take note of the explanation required by paragraph (b); and

(d) any motion under paragraph (c) may be debated for no longer than 30 minutes, shall have precedence over all business until determined, and senators may speak to the motion for not more than 10 minutes each.