Labor Faces Calls to Reveal ‘Secret Manual’ for Avoiding Senate Questions

With support from the crossbench, the Coalition has urged the Labor government to distribute the document issued by the Prime Minister’s Office to departments. This document instructs them on handling questions on notice from Senate estimates. Simon Birmingham, leader of the Opposition in the Senate and South Australia Liberal Senator, said the document represents a “severe form of contempt for the Senate” and asked for “scrutiny, explanation, and correction” from the PM. Question time is crucial in checking the government by scrutinising bills, legislations, and policies, and representing the interests of Australia’s six states and two territories. In February, it was revealed during question time that Australian taxpayers had been billed over $40,000 (US$26,800) for eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant’s four-day trip to the World Economic Forum 2024 annual meeting, where she advocated for tighter rules on online safety....