DOCUMENTS

Senator PAYMAN (Western Australia—Australia's Voice Whip) (16:05): I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) a response to order for the production of documents no. 672, agreed to on 10 September 2026 and relating to Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program, was tabled on 12 October 2026, (ii) in a letter tabled as part of the response, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister notes that '[t]he Prime Minister was not the decision maker for grants awarded under the Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program, nor is the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet the department for the administration of this program' and that '[r]equests for documentation in relation to these grants would appropriately be directed to the Department of Infrastructure [sic]', and (iii) the letter does not make a claim of public interest immunity in relation to any documents sought by the order, nor does it deny the existence of documents within the scope of the order; (b) rejects the suggestion that an order of the Senate may not be complied with because a minister believes it 'would appropriately be directed' elsewhere when that minister holds documents that are within the scope of the order; and (c) requires the Minister representing the Prime Minister to, by no later than midday on 21 October 2026, table a new response to the order which either: (i) clarifies that no documents within the scope of the order exist, or (ii) provides the documents sought by the order, subject to any claim of public interest immunity.