Orders for the production of documents—2003

Number of orders for the production of documents agreed to: 34

Agency Advertising and Public Information Projects

  • A statement, by each minister in the Senate, in respect of each agency administered by that minister, or by a minister in the House of Representatives represented by that minister, relating to advertising or public information project undertaken by each agency where the cost of the project is estimated or contracted to be $100 000 or more.
  • Order made: 29 October 2003
  • For tabling: within 5 sitting days of the Senate after the project is approved

Animal Welfare—Live Sheep Export

  • Details of the number of mortalities aboard the MV Cormo Express.
  • Order made: 17 September 2003
  • For tabling: 18 September 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, 18 September 2003, claiming that it would not be in the public interest to table the documents and indicating that information would be provided when the matter had been resolved.

Animal Welfare—Live Sheep Export

  • Documents relating to the voyage of the MV Cormo Express.
  • Order made: 14 October 2003
  • For tabling: 15 October 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, 15 October 2003, indicating that certain documents were under consideration by the Government and that a certain other document was to be provided.
  • Document tabled: 15 October 2003

Defence—Point NepeanLand Sale

  • Further information relating to the expressions of interest in Defence land for sale at Point Nepean.
  • Order made: 14 May 2003
  • For tabling: 15 May 2003
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 15 May 2003, indicating that the documents were still being examined and that the Government would respond as soon as possible.
  • The Minister for the Arts and Sport, 16 June 2003.
  • Documents tabled: 16 June 2003

Education—Higher Education—Regional Impact Statement

  • The regional impact statement prepared by the Department of Education Science and Training, in support, explanation and justification of the higher education policy package.
  • Order made: 28 October 2003
  • For tabling: 29 October 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, 29 October 2003, claiming that the document is included in a cabinet submission and it would therefore be inappropriate to provide the document.
  • Order not complied with.

Education—National Report

  • Documents relating to the National Report on Australia's Higher Education Sector 2001 ('national report').
  • Order made: 9 September 2003
  • For tabling: 15 September 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 15 September 2003, indicating that certain documents would be tabled, and that in the government's opinion it would not be in the public interest to table certain other documents.
  • Documents tabled: 15 September 2003

Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme—Draft Regulations

  • Draft regulations to be made under the Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme Bill 2003 and under the Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2003, and documents relating to meetings at which the draft regulations were examined.
  • Order made: 19 June 2003
  • For tabling: 19 June 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Defence, 19 June 2003, indicating that the draft regulations would not be provided and claiming that it was a long-standing practice not to release draft regulations relating to amendments under the consideration of Parliament.
  • Order not complied with.

Environment—Fishing—Threatened Species

  • Correspondence from the Minister for the Environment and Heritage to the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation relating to the prosecution of fishers under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for the incidental capture of members of listed threatened species, listed migratory species and listed marine species in Commonwealth areas.
  • Order made: 20 August 2003
  • For tabling: 21 August 2003
  • Related document tabled: 21 August 2003, indicating that there has been no correspondence between Dr Kemp and Senator Ian Macdonald.

Environment—National Radioactive Waste Repository

  • Documents relating to the Governments consideration of a National Radioactive Waste Repository in South Australia.
  • Order made: 5 February 2003
  • For tabling: 3 March 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 3 March 2003, indicating that the documents were in the form of interdepartmental advice, and claiming that such advices are confidential and would not be published.
  • Order not complied with.

Environment—National Radioactive Waste Repository

  • Submissions made by the Department of Defence to the Environment Impact Assessment for a National Radioactive Waste Repository in South Australia.
  • Order made: 5 February 2003
  • For tabling: 6 February 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Defence, 6 February 2003, indicating that there was no formal public submission, that communication was in the form of interdepartmental advice, and claiming that such advices are confidential and would not be published.
  • Order not complied with.

Environment—National Radioactive Waste Repository

    Written advice concerning the defence-related issues in connection with the National Radioactive Waste Repository in South Australia. Order made: 5 March 2003 For tabling: 6 March 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for the Arts and Sport, 6 March 2003, indicating that the documents were in the form of interdepartmental advice, and claiming that such advices are confidential and would not be published.
  • Order not complied with.

Environment—Nuclear Waste

  • Documents relating to work undertaken by the public relations company Hill and Knowlton concerning nuclear issues.
  • Order made: 14 May 2003
  • For tabling: 17 June 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 17 June 2003.
  • Documents tabled: 17 June 2003

Environment—Radioactive WasteNational Store

  • List of potential sites for the location of a national store for intermediate level radioactive waste prepared by the National Store Advisory Committee.
  • Order made: 14 May 2003
  • For tabling: 15 May 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 15 May 2003, indicating that the documents were in the form of interdepartmental advice, and claiming that such advices are confidential and would not be published.
  • Order not complied with.

Environment—Sepon Mine

  • Documents detailing the results of the independent environmental and social audit of the Sepon Mine project in Laos.
  • Order made: 16 October 2003
  • For tabling: 30 October 2003
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, 30 October 2003, indicating that it would not be possible to comply with the order by the date required, but a response would be provided in the next two weeks.
  • The Minister for Finance and Administration, 25 November 2003, claiming that it would not be in the public interest to table the documents.
  • Order not complied with.

Environment—Sepon Mine

  • Parts of an audit report on the Sepon mine project in Laos relating to the environmental and social impacts of the project.
  • Order made: 3 December 2003
  • For tabling: 4 December 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, 4 December 2003, claiming that it would not be in the public interest to table the documents as previously advised on 25 November 2003.
  • Order not complied with.

Finance—Calculation of the IBNR Levy

  • Documents held by the Australian Government Actuary relating to its calculations of the Incurred But Not Reported levy.
  • Order made: 13 October 2003
  • For tabling: 14 October 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, 14 October 2003, claiming that the documents were commercial-in-confidence and that the government would respond after the Australian Government Actuary had reviewed the documents.

Finance—Deposit Bonds

  • Documents prepared by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Department of the Treasury relating to deposit bonds.
  • Order made: 25 November 2003
  • For tabling: 1 December 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, 1 December 2003, indicating that it would not be possible to comply with the order by the date required.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee—Report—Materiel Acquisition and Management in Defence

  • Report by the Director of Trials of the Review of Test and Evaluation in Defence.
  • Order made: 14 May 2003
  • For tabling: On completion of report
  • Related document tabled: 17 June 2003

Foreign AffairsIraq—Military Action

  • Documents relating to the legality of involvement in a war with Iraq where there is no resolution subsequent to Resolution 1441.
  • Order made 19 March 2003
  • For tabling 20 March 2003
  • Statement by leave The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 20 March 2003, indicating that legal advice provided to the Government had been tabled, and claiming that the Government does not have the authority in relation to documents commissioned by the United Nations and such requests should be directed to the United Nations.

Health—Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation

  • Report of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the National Health and Medical Research Council report on the new ATAGI recommended vaccines.
  • Order made: 14 May 2003
  • For tabling: 15 May 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 15 May 2003, indicating that the report of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation was available, but the report of the National Health and Medical Research Council did not exist.
  • Document tabled: 15 May 2003

Health—Immunisation

  • Documents relating to options for vaccination programs.
  • Order made: 8 October 2003
  • For tabling: next day of sitting
  • Statement by leave: The Special Minister of State, 9 October 2003, claiming that certain documents were confidential and consultations would take place to seek agreement for tabling, certain other documents were considered large in volume and other documents were able to be provided.
  • Documents tabled: 9 October 2003

Health—National Drug Research Strategy

  • The most recent draft of the National Drug Research Strategy, as prepared by the National Drug Research Committee.
  • Order made: 8 October 2003
  • For tabling: next day of sitting
  • Statement by leave: The Special Minister of State, 9 October 2003, claiming that the draft National Drug Research Strategy was a working document and it had not been cleared by all parties involved.

Health—Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

  • Documents relating to the National Prescribing Service and an education campaign about the Thiazolidinedione group of drugs.
  • Order made: 3 December 2003
  • For tabling: 4 December 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, 4 December 2003, indicating that it would not be possible to comply with the order by the date required.

Health—Tobacco Advertising—Australian Grand Prix

  • Documents from the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to the Federal Government for exemption from the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992.
  • Order made: 14 May 2003
  • For tabling: 15 May 2003
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 15 May 2003, indicating that it had not been possible to comply in full, the documents were still being examined and that the Government would respond as soon as possible. Certain documents were able to be provided.
  • The Minister for the Arts and Sport, 16 June 2003.
  • Documents tabled: 15 May and 16 June 2003

Health—Tobacco Sponsorship

  • Document relating to the European Unions decision to phase-out tobacco sponsorship of formula one races in 2003.
  • Order made: 19 March 2003
  • For tabling: 20 March 2003
  • Document tabled: 20 March 2003

Historical Events—Sydney Opera House

  • Any assessment made since 1996 in preparation for, or consideration of, a world heritage nomination for the Sydney Opera House.
  • Order made: 16 October 2003
  • For tabling: 27 October 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, 27 October 2003, indicating that it would not be possible to comply with the order by the date required, but a response would be provided by 30 October 2003.
  • Documents tabled: 30 October 2003

Immigration—Illegal Migration

  • The Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Government and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
  • Order made: 25 March 2003
  • For tabling: 26 March 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, 26 March 2003, claiming that it was not in the public interest to table the document.
  • Order not complied with.

Immigration—Management of Detention Centres

  • Documents relating to the management of detention centres.
  • Order made: 13 October 2003
  • For tabling: 16 October 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, 16 October 2003, claiming that certain documents contain security concerns therefore these documents will not be made public and a certain other document would be provided.
  • Document tabled: 16 October 2003

Industry—Basslink

  • Documents relating to the Basslink project.
  • Order made: 14 May 2003
  • For tabling: 15 May 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 15 May 2003, indicating that the documents were still being examined and that the government would respond as soon as possible.
  • Order not complied with.

Industry—Biotechnology Australia

  • Documents relating to work undertaken by the public relations company, Turnbull Porter Novelli, for Biotechnology Australia.
  • Order made: 25 June 2003
  • For tabling: 12 August 2003
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Minister for Family and Community Services, 12 August 2003, indicating that it would not be possible to comply with the order by the date required, but a response would be provided within the next three sitting weeks.
  • The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, 20 August 2003.
  • Documents tabled: 20 August and 4 December 2003

Science and Technology—Assisted Reproductive Technology

  • Reports relating to assisted reproductive technology embryos.
  • Order made: 28 October 2003
  • For tabling: 29 October 2003
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Minister for Defence, 29 October 2003, indicating that the documents requested can not be released without the agreement of the Commonwealth, the states and the territories and that the Government is seeking views on the release of the documents and will advise as soon as possible.
  • Senator Harradine, 3 December 2003, inquiring into the status of the documents sought by the order.
  • The Minister for Defence, 3 December 2003, responding to Senator Harradine and indicating that the matter would be referred to the Prime Minister to seek further advice.

Science and Technology—Rio Tinto Technology

  • Documents relating to Rio Tinto Technology and the report "Beyond Kyoto: Innovation and Adaptation".
  • Order made: 9 October 2003
  • For tabling: 13 October 2003
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, 13 October 2003, claiming that it may prejudice the commercial interests of Rio Tinto and Roam Consulting and indicating that the government would consider tabling certain documents after responses were received from Rio Tinto and Roam Consulting, and that further time was required to examine certain other documents.
  • The Minister for Justice and Customs, 14 October 2003, indicating that further time was required to comply with the order.
  • The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, 30 October 2003, indicating that the documents provided were located within the Department of Education, Science and Training and claiming that working documents initiated by the Working Group were not held by the department.
  • Documents tabled: 30 October 2003

Taxation—First Home Owners

  • Documents prepared by the Department of the Treasury relating to first home owners.
  • Order made: 1 December 2003
  • For tabling: 4 December 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, 4 December 2003, indicating that it would not be possible to comply with the order by the date required.

Trade—Free Trade Agreement—Genetically-modified Food

  • Documents relating to the proposed Australia-United States free trade agreement and the regulation of labelling of genetically-modified foods in Australia and/or the United States.
  • Order made: 9 October 2003
  • For tabling: 15 October 2003
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Special Minister of State, 15 October 2003, indicating that certain documents were to be provided and claiming that it was not in the public interest to table certain other documents.
  • The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, 30 October 2003, indicating that certain documents were to be provided and claiming that it was not in the public interest to table certain other documents.
  • Documents tabled: 15 and 30 October 2003

Departmental and Agency Contracts

  • List of departmental and agency contracts.
  • Order made: 20 June 2001 (Varied 27 September 2001, 18 and 26 June and 4 December 2003)
  • For tabling: not later than 30 September each year
  • Documents tabled: 3, 19, 20, 24, 25 and 26 March, 13 May 12, 13 and 18 August, 8, 10, 15 and 16 September and 27 October 2003

Environment—Lucas Heights Reactor

  • The study commissioned by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation of the preliminary evaluation of the construction site for the replacement research reactor at Lucas Heights.
  • Order made: 25 June 2002
  • For tabling: 26 June 2002
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 26 June 2002, indicating that the study was still being conducted by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences and claiming the Government was unable to comply with the order at that time; and that the Government would consider tabling the report once it is completed.
  • The Special Minister of State, 24 June 2003.
  • Document tabled: 24 June 2003

Finance—Higher Education

  • Documents relating to financial information and forward financial projections and actuals, routinely prepared by the Department of Education, Science and Training for higher education institutions.
  • Order made: 21 August 2002
  • For tabling: 26 August 2002
  • Documents tabled: 26 August 2002
  • Statements by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 26 August 2002, claiming that certain documents were commercial-in-confidence.
    The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 16 September 2002, indicating that the Government would not breach its confidentiality agreement with the universities but was prepared to seek permission from the vice-chancellors to provide the documents.
    Contingent notice of motion: Senator Carr, 28 August 2002, referring the matter to the Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Legislation Committee; moved and agreed to 18 September 2002.
  • Committee report tabled: 15 October 2003—Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee—Order for production of documents on university finances

Health—Anti-competitive health cover practices

  • Assessment reports by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on anti-competitive health cover practices.

    Order made: 25 March 1999 (Varied 18 September 2002)

    For tabling: at the end of each period of 12 months ending on or after June 2003
  • Document tabled: 25 November 2003

Health—Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

  • Documents relating to the inter-departmental committee examining the effectiveness of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
  • Order made: 3 December 2002
  • For tabling: 4 December 2002
  • Statement by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 4 December 2002, indicating that it had not been possible to comply by the required date, but the documents would be provided as soon as possible.
  • Documents tabled: 3 March 2003

Health—Tobacco

  • Report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission relating to Australian tobacco companies.
  • Order made: 27 June 2002
  • For tabling: no tabling date specified
  • Related document tabled: 24 November 2003

Indexed lists of departmental and agency files

    Indexed lists of files of government departments and agencies. Order made: 30 May 1996 (Varied 3 December 1998) For tabling: by the tenth day of the autumn and spring sittings each year or statements of compliance that such indexed lists of files have been placed on the Internet.
  • Documents tabled: 3, 5, 6, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 March, 13 May, 11 and 20 August, 8, 9 and 10 September and 7 October 2003

Science and Technology—Allocation of Funding

  • Documents relating to funding or allocation of money or benefits to the Rio Tinto Foundation for a Sustainable Minerals Industry.
  • Order made: 12 December 2002
  • For tabling: 4 February 2003
  • Documents tabled: 5 February 2003

Science and Technology—Genetically-modified Food

  • Documents relating to genetically-modified food in the context of the current free trade agreement negotiations with the United States and of the labelling of genetically-modified and genetically-engineered food.
  • Order made: 12 December 2002
  • For tabling: 4 February 2003
  • Statement by leave: The Minister for Justice and Customs, 5 February 2003, indicating that the documents were still being examined and that the government would respond as soon as possible.
  • Order not complied with.

Superannuation—Insurance and Superannuation Commission

  • Documents relating to the supervision by the Insurance and Superannuation Commission of certain insurance companies.
  • Order made: 19 November 2002
  • For tabling: 2 December 2002
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Minister for the Arts and Sport, 2 December 2002, indicating that it had not been possible to comply by the required date, but the documents would be provided as soon as possible.
  • The Special Minister of State, 27 June 2003 (am), claiming that the Government could not justify the use of public resources to create the copies that would be required to table the files as requested, and indicating that access to the relevant files would be granted to the Senator who moved the motion if necessary.
  • Order not complied with.

Trade—Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

  • Documents relating to the possible inclusion of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme as an item for discussion in negotiations for an Australia-United States free trade agreement.
  • Order made: 3 December 2002
  • For tabling: 4 December 2002
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 4 December 2002, indicating that neither the minister nor the department holds any documents relating to the order.
  • The Minister for the Arts and Sport, 16 June 2003, indicating that documents had been identified as relating to the order, claiming that it was not in the public interest to table two documents, but indicating that certain other documents had been identified for tabling.
  • Documents tabled: 16 June 2003

Transport—Ethanol

  • Documents relating to a proposed ethanol excise and production subsidy.
  • Order made: 16 October 2002
  • For tabling: 21 October 2002
  • Statement by leave: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 21 October 2002, indicating that it had not been possible to comply by the required date, but the documents would be provided as soon as possible.
  • Motion moved: 11 December 2002, calling on the Government to comply with the order by 11 December 2002.
  • Statements by leave:
  • The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 13 December 2002 am, indicating that the documents would be tabled out of session by 17 December 2002.
  • The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, 5 February 2003, indicating that it had not been possible to comply yet, but the documents would be provided as soon as possible.
  • Motions moved:
  • 4 March 2003, calling on the Government to comply with the order by 6 March 2003.
  • 26 March 2003, calling on the Government to comply with the order by 27 March 2003.
  • Second reading amendment: 12 August 2003, moving that further consideration of the Customs Tariff Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2003 and the Excise Tariff Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2003 be postponed till after the Government fully complies with the order.
  • Order not complied with.

Unproclaimed legislation—Document—Standing Order 139(2)

  • Documents providing details of all provisions of Acts which come into effect on proclamation and which have not yet been proclaimed, including statements of reasons for their non-proclamation and information relating to the timetable for their operation, as at 31 July 2003.
  • Document tabled: 19 August 2003