Transparency is the cornerstone of democratic governance, yet Australia’s federal executive continues to undermine it through increasing non-compliance with Senate orders for documents.

New data reveals a precipitous fall in compliance from 92% in the 1993-96 Parliament to a mere 33% currently. This decline coincides with a troubling rise in unilateral claims of Public Interest Immunity (PII), where the executive withholds information without independent oversight, potentially obscuring misconduct or politically sensitive issues.

Alarmingly, under the Albanese Government, PII claims occur weekly—three times the frequency of the Morrison Government. This paper argues that such unilateral PII claims are incompatible with responsible governance, significantly hampering Parliament’s ability to perform critical oversight.

The Centre for Public Integrity recommends establishing an Independent Legal Arbiter within Senate Standing Orders, empowering impartial review of privilege claims and deterring unwarranted secrecy.

For an in-depth analysis and detailed reform proposals, download the full paper.