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) (18:16): by leave—I move an amendment to the motion: Omit all words after 'That', insert 'the Senate notes that: (a) complying with an order to produce all estimates briefs would irreparably damage the ability of Government departments and agencies to support the estimates committee process in the future; (b) it is the collective nature of questioning at estimates that contributes to the Senate's scrutiny role; and (c) the release of documents sought by orders to produce all estimates briefs would likely change the way that all Government departments and agencies prepare for estimates and, indeed, all committee processes in the future.

The PRESIDENT: The question is that the amendment by Senator Chisholm, as circulated, to general business notion of motion No. 333, standing in the name of Senator Hume and moved by Senator Collins, be agreed to.