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) (15:50): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator CHISHOLM: The government will not be supporting this motion.

As already outlined to this chamber, the 48th Parliament has seen an increasingly inappropriate use of OPDs. Historically, the scope of OPDs had insisted on specificity or sought a particular document. The scope of this OPD is so large it amounts to nothing more than a fishing expedition.

The government encourages the senator to narrow the scope of their order. The PRESIDENT: The question is that general business notices of motion Nos 280 and 281, standing in the name of Senator Allman-Payne, be agreed to.