The Senate has passed a motion compelling Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to release internal reports on asylum seeker boat arrivals and incidents at sea.
The Australian Greens' motion demands Mr Morrison table all communications about "on-water operations" between the election and November 14, and email and correspondence between the minister, his office and the Department of Immigration and Customs.
The motion passed in the Senate on Thursday morning, with the support of the Greens and Labor.
Documents about the chronology of events, unauthorised boat arrivals, interceptions at sea, distress calls and response times by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, nationality of passengers, boat turn backs, tow backs, child asylum seekers and water transfers must also be tabled.
The motion also requires Mr Morrison to table documents about future incidents within 24 hours of the event.
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"This will bring an end to the coalition's arrogant silence," Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"The tired, empty excuses and refusal to discuss so called 'operational matters' have shown the Australian people that secrecy is more important to this Abbott government than transparency."
Assistant Immigration Minister Michaelia Cash initially said the government would vote against the motion.
"We do not run a shipping news service for people smugglers," she told the Senate.
However, the motion was carried 33 votes to 28.
Mr Morrison had been criticised for refusing to answer journalists' questions at his Friday Operation Sovereign Border media briefings or provide information about incidents during the week.
Comment is being sought from Mr Morrison's office.
According to Senate rules, Mr Morrison could potentially defy the order if he makes a claim of public interest immunity.
There are accepted grounds for immunity such as issues of national security.
The claim could be made on his behalf by Assistant Minister Cash or the Leader of the Senate Eric Abetz.
The Senate could potentially censure Mr Morrison as a minister if he defies the order.
In an unlikely, extreme-worse-case scenario the Senate could charge him with contempt of the Senate.
That charge carries fine and imprisonment penalties.
The Senate has never gone down the technical contempt path in previous cases of ministers failing to comply with Senate orders.
