DOCUMENTS

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland—Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Assistant Minister for Resources and Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (16:19): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator CHISHOLM: Consistent with our position on all motions related to this request, the government will not be supporting this motion.

As already noted in the Senate, the report referenced in this motion is being used to inform government decisions at a cabinet level. Actual deliberations at the Executive Council or cabinet are protected from disclosure. In this case, the report is the central document for those cabinet deliberations.

It has not been previously released or published, and a decision has not been made on the deliberations. The release prior to the finalisation of cabinet processes would negatively impact those deliberations. Senator Gallagher has personally spoken to Senator Pocock and conveyed this to be upfront about the government's reasons in opposing this motion.

As Senator Gallagher said on a number of occasions, when the government has completed relevant deliberations the report will be released. The PRESIDENT: The question is that general business notice of motion No. 118, standing in the name of Senator David Pocock, be agreed to.