DOCUMENTS

Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (16:28): I seek leave to move an amendment to this motion that would omit all words after 'that' and insert two new paragraphs: (a) notes that orders for the production of documents is one of the Senate's most serious powers and should be used when other processes have been exhausted rather than for fishing expeditions and (b) notes that senators seeking to order the production of documents should consider paragraph (a) and refine their orders accordingly.

Senator Scarr: I raise a point of order, President. If the amendment is in the form circulated in the chamber, I query and seek direction from you, President, as to whether there's any need to read the amendment as if it were a statement. The PRESIDENT: I will check with the Clerk, although I do note that there were questions about the last amendment that required Minister Gallagher to explain herself.

I am advised that there is no specific rule to prevent any senator from reading their amendment. Is leave granted to move the amendment? Leave granted.

Senator GALLAGHER: I move the amendment: Omit all words after "That", substitute: (a) the power to order the production of documents is one of the Senate's most serious powers, and should be used when other processes have been exhausted rather than for fishing expeditions; and (b) senators seeking to order the production of documents should consider paragraph (a) and refine their orders accordingly.

The PRESIDENT: The question is that the amendment as moved by Minister Gallagher to general business notice of motion No. 321 be agreed to.