Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Kangaroo control

The Clerk: In response to various orders for the production of documents, I table the following letters from the Attorney-General: a letter dated 6 December 2023 in response to a resolution of the Council on 15 November 2023 on the motion of Dr Ratnam relating to the redevelopment of high-rise public housing sites, a letter dated 6 December 2023 in response to a resolution of the Council on 15 November 2023 on the motion of Mr Davis relating to gas and electricity supplies and a letter dated 18 December 2023 in response to a resolution of the Council on 29 November 2023 on the motion of Mr Davis relating to the Commonwealth infrastructure review. These letters state that the date for the production of documents does not allow sufficient time to respond and that the government will endeavour to provide a final response to the orders as soon as possible.

I further table a letter from the Attorney-General dated 1 February 2024 in response to the resolution of the Council on 3 May 2023 on the motion of Mr Bourman and further to the government’s initial response on 1 June 2023 relating to the seasonal changes to the 2023 duck-hunting season. The government has identified 66 documents within the scope of the order. A claim of executive privilege has been made over seven documents in part and four documents in full. I further table 55 documents provided in full and seven documents provided in part together with schedules of the identified documents.

I have received a further letter from the Attorney-General dated 6 February 2024 in response to a resolution of the Council on 29 November 2023 relating to the kangaroo harvest management plan. The letter states that the date for the production of documents does not allow sufficient time to respond and that the government will endeavour to provide a final response to the order as soon as possible.

Samantha Ratnam: On a point of order, President, I just note with concern the delay in the production of a number of sets of documents that the Council is awaiting: matters that are really of high significance to a number of plans the government has – for example, the demolition of public housing across this state. I seek your advice on how the Council can hold the government to account for the need to produce documents that the Council has resolved for them to produce.

David Davis: Further to the point of order, President, I was about to make a similar point of order, and I particularly draw attention to the request for documents around gas and electricity supplies and the Commonwealth infrastructure review. These are now many months overdue. A letter that comes from the government saying ‘We’re looking and we’re going to take some time’ – President, this is now many months, and there needs to be some explanation. The minister might, by leave, like to make some explanation.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, I think that you have made your point. Further to Dr Ratnam’s point of order, there is no point of order as I have no recourse afforded to me under the standing orders in these incidents, but members can move a further motion at a later date to debate this issue.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:39): I move, by leave:

That the minister be given 5 minutes to explain why these documents have not been provided.

Leave refused.