Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 2:17:38 to 2:20:14
Senator McKenzie questions the extent of redactions in documents related to infrastructure project integrity and requests updates on ongoing criminal investigations.
Topics: Integrity, Infrastructure, Orders for documents
Speakers: Hon Bridget McKenzie, Jessica Hall, Senator Paul Scarr, Unknown Speaker
today >> thank you um I just wanted to um with OPD 576 there's extensive reductions including records of meetings between the Commonwealth and Victoria officials concerning infrastructure projects um integrity matters, governance matters. 19 pages are fully uh and 20 pages partially redacted from a 43page document. What has the government got to hide?
>> The redactions just were information that was not >> those the redactions weren't relevant to the questions. There were parts of information that were um other projects and other conversations that weren't relevant to the questions that were asked.
>> So what question do does a senator have to ask to actually get an unredacted version of these documents?
>> The it was about minutes and conversations about projects that weren't relevant to um unacceptable behaviors. So it was normal um conversations that were happening about project and where those projects were up to those sorts of things.
>> Sorry, Mr. B.
>> Fell outside the scope of the OPD.
>> Okay. Um yeah, I'm Senator Scarr. Do you have any further questions or I've got some I can go to?
>> Um well I might just ask one last followup. Miss Hall, you can you tell us today whether or not you've received any update or can you tell us now? I would have thought you have the knowledge now as to whether or not you've received any update with respect to the progress of investigation or consideration of the over 80 allegations. Do you know whether or not you've received any updates after the initial notification with respect to any of the allegations?
>> Um yes, Senator, we have received some updates on some of the projects.
>> Okay. [cough] And you're going [clears throat] to come back and give us those details as soon as you can. Okay. Thank you.
>> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Hall. Minister, um I just want to ask you some questions about the major and local community infrastructure program. Um firstly, did you have any involvement in the assessment, selection or approval of election commitment projects which are now listed to be delivered under that