Friday, 19 August 2022

Production of documents

John Woodman

The Clerk: I lay on the table a letter from the Attorney-General dated 18 August 2022 in response to the resolution of the Council of 25 May 2022 on the motion of Mr Davis and further to the government’s initial response of 15 June 2022 relating to correspondence between the Premier and Mr John Woodman. The letter reads as follows:

I refer to the Legislative Council’s resolution of 25 May 2022 requiring there to be tabled in the House by 15 June 2022 the following documents:

“all emails and other correspondence since 4 December 2014 between the Premier or the Office of the Premier and—

(1) Mr John Woodman;

(2) Mr John Woodman’s employees; and

(3) Mr John Woodman’s companies.”

I also refer to my letter to you on 15 June 2022 informing you that there was insufficient time for the Government to respond to the Order.

I note that the powers of the Council do not extend to compelling a Member of the Legislative Assembly to produce documents to the Council. This is because one House of Parliament cannot purport to exercise authority over the other. Any relevant documents which are exclusively in the possession of the Premier or the Office of the Premier are therefore not amenable to production.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet conducted a thorough and diligent search for documents in accordance with the terms of the Order. It identified five documents in its possession that fall within the scope of the Order. The documents are identified in the enclosed schedule and are released in full subject to minor redactions for personal information.

I further lay on the table the five documents provided in full, together with the schedule of the identified documents.

Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (09:37): I move:

That the Attorney-General’s letter be taken into account on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.