8th Feb 2022, 5:51 PM – Senate Committees - Privileges Committee - Reference

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Victorian Senator Janet Rice (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the following matter be referred to the Standing Committee of Privileges for inquiry and report:

Having regard to the matters raised by the Community Affairs References Committee in correspondence tabled by the President on 30 November 2021:

(a) whether the Minister for Government Services, Senator the Honourable Linda Reynolds:

(i) engaged in conduct which amounted to an improper interference with the Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into Centrelink's compliance program,

(ii) disobeyed a lawful order of the Senate,

(iii) failed to produce documents in accordance with an order of the Senate, or

(iv) improperly interfered with the power of the Senate to obtain information necessary to support its accountability functions; and

(b) if so, whether any contempt was committed in respect of those matters.