Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

We have just seen the Minister for Justice in the national government of Australia speak about criminals who have not been convicted of crimes. That is actually what he said at the dispatch box and it is in Hansard. It is true that I find that difficult to comprehend—that a Minister for Justice would put forward such a proposition. He spoke about advice. The fact is that he then tried to verbal the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, indicating that people had sat down and got amendments. Let's be very clear: the first I found out exactly what the government was amending was when I walked in here about three-quarters of an hour ago. There has been no attempt to offer briefings by the department or by any security agencies about these amendments being moved on the floor of this parliament to reject the Senate amendments. So let's make that clear. If you were at all serious about outcomes and making a difference, then that would have occurred. I am very familiar with the people who are in charge of security around our ports and airports—very familiar with them—and I actually know what happens when you are serious about outcomes.

But getting serious about outcomes is not moving legislation that speaks about 'serious or organised' crime. When it is amended back, consistent with the Ice Taskforce and consistent with the very committee report that you say is the basis of this legislation in this parliament—the report that the Minister for Justice sat on and signed off on that spoke about 'serious and organised crime—when the public reports from the Attorney-General speak about the same thing, when the public reports of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development speak about the same thing, when the Australian Crime Commission Amendment (National Policing Information) Bill 2015, I assume moved by the junior minister in 2015, speaks about that—then why is it that, if they are at all fair dinkum, this legislation does not cover changing the definition in that piece of legislation? Is that piece of legislation in the minister's portfolio inadequate? I suggest not.

Having not succeeded in getting this changed definition through the Senate, and the Senate having determined it should be 'serious and organised' crime, consistent with all of the advice that is on the record, rather than 'serious or organised' crime, they come in here today and propose a change to get rid of 'organised crime' from the definition. They then say, 'Oh, it's about hardening things up.'

I will give the minister a tip. We had a few ministers for justice as well. They started off there and then they became Attorney-Generals or took cabinet positions. No wonder you are stuck there. Quite clearly, you do not follow advice. It is probably you, rather than Minister Chester, who is responsible for this debacle. Rather than have the legislation carried by the parliament, they are taking up time in the parliament in order to knock over their legislation.

Let us be very clear: the Senate has amended this legislation by rejecting the Senate amendments and proposing a whole new definition. If this is the best definition, why was it not proposed last week in the Senate? Why was it not a government amendment in the Senate last week to change the definition to 'serious crime'? If that was the best outcome—and there should be no compromise when it comes to the right outcomes for our national security—why did you not do it then? Why has this amendment been plucked from nowhere with another completely different definition from all of the definitions that are on the record? That is why this should be rejected. That is why the Senate amendments should be supported. That is why the legislation, as amended, should be supported and implemented if it is, indeed, the case that the government has advice that this is urgent. If it is urgent, why are they intervening, yet again, to knock over and change their own legislation?

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