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She received the final report more than two years ago, but has refused to release it in response to Senate demands, claiming the document had been prepared for cabinet and was therefore protected by cabinet confidentiality. Instead, she has said it would be released on the government’s timetable. Independent MP David Pocock rallied non-Labor senators, who hold a majority in the upper house, to take the unprecedented step to extend question time from an hour to 90 minutes until the report was made public. In retaliation, the government threatened to strip Coalition MPs of their deputy chair positions on committees in the House of Representatives, where the government has a majority, if the move was not reversed, according to multiple sources not permitted to speak publicly. The offices of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is overseas, and Gallagher, who leads government business in the Senate, have been contacted for comment. House committees are tasked with investigating matters of public policy, and the prime minister appoints his own MPs as chairs. The leader of the opposition appoints most deputy chair positions, while some committees elect any non-government member, according to the standing orders which govern house procedure.
