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) (17:14): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator CHISHOLM: As a matter of principle, the government does not support orders for the production of documents being directed to the President.

Unlike a minister or an agency of executive government, the President represents the whole Senate. In this instance, the document sought would be a matter of joint parliamentary administration shared with the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It is not appropriate for the Senate to order a production of material by the President over which the President does not have unilateral control and it is offensive to the principles of camaraderie between the houses to act in such a way.

The matter raised by Senator Payman has been extensively canvassed in recent years, including in an inquiry by the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee, which reported just last year. The PRESIDENT: The question is that general business notice of motion No. 149, standing in the name of Senator Payman, be agreed to.