Senate File List

Senate Continuing Order No 10

In 1994 the Senate passed a motion by Senator Brian Harradine requiring each Minister to table twice a year a list of files created by each department or agency. The order was varied by the Senate in 1998 and now requires:

• That each department and agency provide, on its internet home page, an indexed list of the titles of all relevant files.
• The lists are to be prepared twice a year, once for the spring sitting for files created between 1 January and 30 June, and once for the autumn sitting for files created between 1 July and 31 December of the preceding year.
• Tabling of a letter from the Portfolio Minister to the President of the Senate, advising that such indexed lists have been placed on the internet.

Indexed list means a list in which file titles may be grouped by classifications used internally within departments or agencies, such as 'policy', 'legislation', 'advice' etc.

Title means the name or title of the file, excluding any part of that name or title which would necessarily disclose commercially confidential, identifiable personal or national security matters.

Relevant files includes files relating to the policy advising functions of the department or agency, including any relating to the development of legislation and other matters of public administration, but need not include:

1. Files transferred to the Australian Archives;
2. Case related files (eg personal representations of dealing with the personal affairs of departmental or agency clients or taxpayers);
3. Files essentially related to the internal administration of the department or agency (eg staff or personnel matters); or
4. Sensitive Cabinet file titles.

2012

• Files Created July to December 2012 (PDF - 304KB)
• Files Created July to December 2012 (RTF - 216KB)
• Files Created January to June 2012 (PDF - 290KB)
• Files Created January to June 2012 (RTF - 362KB)

2011

• Files Created July to December 2011 (PDF - 295KB)
• Files Created July to December 2011 (RTF - 228KB)