Media
|
News
December 2, 2025
Senator Gallagher, who is also the Public Service Minister, is claiming public interest immunity from a Senate order requiring her to table the letters along with related communications by last Friday, on the basis they relate to Cabinet deliberations in preparation for next year's federal budget.
"It is well recognised under longstanding conventions that it is in the public interest to preserve the confidentiality of Cabinet deliberations to ensure the best possible decisions are made following thorough consideration and discussion of relevant matters within Cabinet," she wrote in a letter to Senate President Sue Lines.
"Through every Budget process, the government seeks to ensure that government spending is efficient and represents value for money for Australian taxpayers.
"This includes identifying lowest priority areas of spending and considering whether that spending should be redirected to higher priority areas."
The order for the production of documents, tabled by ACT independent senator David Pocock and opposition finance and public service spokesperson James Paterson, passed the Senate with the support of the Greens last week.
It ordered the government to table "all correspondence (including emails, letters, text or instant messages) between Senator Gallagher, Labor Senate leader Penny Wong, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Treasury, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his office and department, and "any minister or department or agency concerning cost savings targets" referenced in last week's Australian Financial Review story about the savings drive.
Senator Pocock blasted Labor for refusing to comply.
"The Albanese government appears determined to remain one of the most secretive on record," he said.
"Claiming public interest immunity and saying the documents are subject to Cabinet deliberations as part of a budget process when they are being openly discussed is farcical."
Senator Paterson said the "arrogant" refusal to comply with Senate orders "shows the Albanese government's contempt for transparency and scrutiny."
"This government continues to demonstrate when it comes to transparency it's one rule for them and one rule for others," he said.
Senator Pocock said that, to rely on the Cabinet-in-confidence protections, Senator Gallagher must show that the documents "would disclose the actual deliberations of the Cabinet".
"The government has not done that," he said.
"The government can try and downplay this all they like but it is clear to me the APS is facing a potentially devastating cut in the next federal budget.
"I will be discussing next steps with my Senate colleagues to force compliance as we have previously with other documents the government has tried to keep secret."
In her letter, sent in her capacity as Finance Minister as well as on behalf of the Prime Minister and Treasurer, Senator Gallagher said the idea that the Albanese government was imposing a 5 per cent cut on agencies was "incorrect".
"What we have asked agencies to do is to think about all the things they're doing and all the programs they administer and to consider whether they are still priorities, because we need to ensure that we've got resources available to meet all of the pressures that are coming the way of the public service."