SenateDivision 3 · 24 Jun 2026

Documents - Biosecurity - Order for the Production of Documents

Not passed6 aye · 34 no

What this vote was about

The majority voted against the following motion introduced at the request of Tasmanian Senator Alex Antic (Liberal), which means it failed. Note that despite Senator Antic introducing this bill and voting "yes", the rest of the Liberal Party voted "no".

Motion text

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Industry and Innovation, the Minister for Science and the Minister representing the Prime Minister, by no later than midday on Monday, 27 July 2026:

(a) all documents held by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Defence, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and the Office of National Intelligence from 1 January 2010 to the present, relating to:

(i) Australian participation in, funding of, collaboration with or oversight of overseas high-containment biological laboratories, biological threat reduction programs, pathogen research programs including gain of function research or dual-use biological research,

(ii) agreements, contracts, grants, memoranda of understanding, funding arrangements, scientist exchanges, training programs or joint research projects between Australian entities and foreign governments, foreign government agencies or foreign entities conducting or funding high-containment pathogen research,

(iii) assessments, briefings, reports, correspondence, intelligence products, biosafety reviews, biosecurity reviews or risk assessments relating to gain of function research, dual-use research of concern, enhanced potential pandemic pathogens or pathogen enhancement research conducted in connection with such programs, and

(iv) reviews, audits, inquiries or investigations conducted since 2020 concerning Australia's knowledge of, involvement in or collaboration with, international pathogen research networks; and

(b) for each document that is captured by the order and withheld under a public interest immunity claim, an indexed schedule which lists the name (or a short description of the document if untitled), date and type of the document as well as an explanation of the basis on which the document is withheld.

Context written by They Vote For You volunteers (ODbL), reproduced unchanged.

Order for the production of documents: An order for the production of documents requires the government to table specified documents. It is one of the Senate's main accountability tools.

By party

Party	Aye	No
Australian Labor Party	0	17
Australian Greens	0	11
Liberal–National Coalition	1	5
Pauline Hanson's One Nation	4	0
United Australia Party	1	0
Independent	0	1

Every vote

Other divisions this sitting day

What the Senate divided on around this vote, in order.

24 Jun 2026Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Tackling the Gender Super Gap) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main ideaSenate 27–34
24 Jun 2026Documents — Department of the Treasury, Home Guarantee Scheme; Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 34–19
24 Jun 2026Documents — Department of the Treasury; Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 24–29
24 Jun 2026Business — RearrangementSenate 21–32
24 Jun 2026Matters of Urgency — National Disability Insurance SchemeSenate 18–32
24 Jun 2026Matters of Urgency - National Disability Insurance Scheme - Criticism of AUKUSSenate 10–31