The Coalition in the Senate has successfully held the Albanese Government to account this week, exposing a deeply entrenched culture of secrecy and a pattern of deliberately withholding critical information from the Australian Parliament and public.
Labor has continued to refuse compliance with Senate orders for documents this past week, adding to a disturbing pattern of secrecy that undermines Australians’ right to information and has been called out by the Centre for Public Integrity.
This has forced the Opposition and the crossbench to support unprecedented accountability measures.
Key Victories for Accountability
- Forcing Release of Energy Brief: The Government bowed to pressure and released a heavily redacted version of the Incoming Government Brief prepared for Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Then on Wednesday, the Senate voted 37-21 to compel the Government to release an unredacted version by Friday midday. The brief revealed warnings that electricity prices would climb and emissions reductions need to accelerate "rapidly" to meet the government's 2030 climate target – information the government tried to keep hidden from Australians.
- Punishing Government Non-Compliance with Document Orders: The Government has repeatedly refused to comply with Senate Orders for the Production of Documents, including an order to release the final report of the review of public sector board appointments as promised. Working with Senator David Pocock and the crossbench, the Coalition has held the Government accountable by instituting consequences that require the Government to answer five additional questions during Question Time each day until they comply with outstanding orders.
- Moving Amendments to Protect Transparency and Accountability: The Coalition is moving amendments to the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill to address serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and government overreach. The Bill's amendments to the FOI Act are overly broad and risk blocking public access to critical CDC documents. Combined with Labor's separate FOI "reforms" that expand exemptions, reintroduce application fees, and ban anonymous requests, these provisions represent a serious erosion of transparency.
Senator Anne Ruston said the Centre for Public Integrity released a damning report this week exposing the Albanese Government's transparency failures – in the very same week the Government hit a new low for secrecy and accountability in the Senate.
"You couldn't make this up. The same week an independent watchdog condemns this government's transparency record is the same week Labor refuses to release critical documents, threatens parliamentary retaliation, and tries to push through new FOI restrictions," Senator Ruston said.
"The Albanese Government campaigned on transparency and accountability but has delivered the opposite. This is a government that is addicted to secrecy.
"Labor has complied with just one-third of Senate orders for documents and its changes to the Freedom of Information Act is an attempt to gut the very law designed to keep government accountable.
“To make matters worse, it is sneaking through significant secrecy provisions in its CDC Bill that contain no appeal rights, no external oversight, and no guarantee the public will see the advice behind critical health decisions - even the Government’s own Chief Information Officer has raised concerns.”
Senator Bridget McKenzie said the Senate vote to extend Question Time was a clear win for transparency and accountability.
"The Senate has taken unprecedented action because this government has left us no choice. When a government refuses to comply with Senate orders, has Ministers who fail to attend the Chamber as directed, refuses FOI requests, and then tries to gut the FOI Act itself, Parliament must act," Senator McKenzie said.
"Australians deserve a government that operates with transparency and accountability. We will continue holding Labor to account until they deliver the openness they promised."
ENDS
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