DOCUMENTS

Senator McKENZIE (Victoria—Leader of the Nationals in the Senate) (12:25): I move: That the Senate take note of the explanation. Well there you have it. I take note of a pathetic response to the order of the Australian Senate for this government to produce documents to assure federal taxpayers that their funds are not funding corruption—unlawful and illegal criminal behaviour—on public infrastructure projects in my home state of Victoria.

I note the minister's advice that the documents tabled contained minor redactions. Please, if you're near the web—I'll show the people in the gallery the minor redactions. Eighteen pages are blacked out.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie. Senator McKENZIE: Eighteen pages blacked out is not a minor redaction, Minister. People deserve to have confidence— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, please resume your seat.

Minister, on a point of order? Senator Ayres: There are standing orders that relate to the use of props. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I did call Senator McKenzie, and she did put it down.

I will bring it to her attention again, Minister. It's okay to refer to documents. However, we try to avoid using props.

Senator McKenzie. Senator McKENZIE: I find it difficult to believe that a document that has been tabled in this chamber is unable to be referred to. But, anyway— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: You absolutely can, Senator McKenzie, and I said that.

Senator Scarr, on a point of order? Senator Scarr: Deputy President, in relation to this interpretation of props, can I ask you to take on notice—because it does raise an interesting question—that Senator McKenzie is actually referring to the documents which were tabled in accordance with the order for production of documents. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Absolutely.

Senator Scarr: She wasn't referring to anything external from the operation of this Senate. From my perspective, if one were to pick up a bill and say, 'This bill is 300 pages long,' then that's something quite legitimate to do. It's not a prop; it's a law which is being debated, just as the response to this order for production of documents is being debated.

So could I ask you to take that on notice? I think it's an interesting question. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I agree, Senator Scarr.

Minister Ayres? Senator Ayres: I do think it's interesting given, Senator Scarr's determination to bring economics 101 in here from time to time. I think, if you do review what Senator McKenzie said, she invited people to approach the material in a particular kind of way.

I don't want to spend much time on it, but, you know, we do try and keep some order in the joint. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: My view is, and this is consistent practice, where documents are being referred to, they are absolutely allowed to be in the chamber. However, holding them up to the cameras is where they perhaps enter another zone— Senator McKenzie: I was holding them up to the gallery— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: or to the gallery, for that matter.

That is where they perhaps enter another zone. However, Senator Scarr, as you've requested, I will take this matter on notice, and I will refer it to the President. Senator McKenzie, you have the call.

Senator McKENZIE: On 12 August 2026, the Senate agreed to an order for the production of documents, including reports from the Victorian Labor government to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government relating to allegations of criminal or unlawful behaviour on land transport infrastructure projects. They were ordered to be produced.

Parties on opposite sides of the political spectrum joined together to say this minister needed to produce these documents. Yesterday, the minister failed to comply with the order of the Australian Senate. What we know is that the incredible accusations of $15 billion of CFMEU corruption on Victoria's Big Build infrastructure projects are not a myth.

The Commonwealth has put $30 billion of Commonwealth taxpayer money into Big Build projects. The Victorian Labor government has for years attempted to wash over claims of corruption. The now premier and then deputy premier, Ben Carroll, has finally called a royal commission into the corruption.

We also know the Victorian government has provided reports to Minister King of allegations of corrupt and unlawful behaviour, yet Minister King, once again, running a protection racket for the Victorian Labor government and their pals in the CFMEU, has failed to provide copies of these reports from the Victorian government. Not one such report was included in the documents tabled yesterday.

Minister King has claimed public interest immunity. What was provided by Minister King, as I said in my opening remarks, is an absolute insult to the Australian Senate. Of the 43 pages submitted in these documents, all but two pages are heavily redacted with huge black slabs, like someone's got the big texta and said, 'You shall not see this.' Eighteen pages are fully redacted—not a word on them.

The remaining pages are heavily redacted, with isolated sentences taken from minutes of meetings between Commonwealth and Victorian officials. What was supplied was the attendance of six meetings between the state of Victoria and Commonwealth road projects governance group. No documents were provided as to the actions the federal government has taken to ensure federal money has not been used to fund unlawful or corrupt practices on jointly funded infrastructure projects—something I have been pursuing for years in Senate estimates, in this chamber and through the Senate more broadly.

The Albanese government has attempted to close its eyes and its ears to the corruption in Victoria, despite continuing to funnel billions of dollars to projects—the North East Link, the Suburban Rail Loop—which have been subjected to allegations of bullying, corruption and fraud. Legitimate construction businesses are denied access to these publicly funded infrastructure projects.

You need to have the right people working for you to get a job in the corrupt state of Victoria. An incident having occurred in the gallery— Senator McKENZIE: Thank you. It's great to have some people from my home state in the gallery.

The Suburban Rail Loop has been subject to at least 16 serious allegations of unlawful and criminal behaviour. The North East Link has been subject to 28 allegations of corruption, fraud, criminal behaviour and breaches of workplace relations laws. It is clear Catherine King is not interested in being upfront and transparent.

The Albanese government is either negligent or complicit in the corruption that's occurring in the Big Build in Victoria.