Milton Dick (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Let's be clear from the outset what the Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 is all about. Government members who are now leaving the chamber, including the member for Calare, who just spoke, would have you believe this is somehow about strengthening national security—it's not—and that it's somehow about enshrining Australian values—it's not. And they would somehow lead the Australian people to believe it's about strengthening the integrity of the citizenship program. It does not. There is only one purpose behind his bill. If you listen closely to what government members are saying, they don't give any reasoning behind the purpose of the bill. It's like a vibe. It's like a feeling. It's sort of like making us safer, but they do not exactly explain how or why. It's just this feeling that the government has that talking about this issue will somehow make Australia stronger and safer. It does not.

There's one reason behind what the government's doing, and this is to prop up the member for Dickson, the minister, in some sort of bizarre leadership campaign that's going on, the hunger games that is this government—the hunger games of ripping each other apart, dog against dog. Time and time again we are now seeing issues being played out, whether it be immigration or citizenship, or even whether Australians have the right to marry the person that they love, all through the prism of this twisted leadership campaign that is going on inside the government.

We have seen no evidence presented for this, and I will sit down now if the minister at the table or any government member can table advice from the national security agencies or from any government agency that says we need to strengthen the provisions in this bill. I will sit down right now if that advice can be tabled here and now. I will yield my time to those opposite if that evidence can be presented.

Well, I am waiting! There are officials here from the department. Where is it? Where is the advice? It does not exist! There is no evidence. We have seen no briefings provided from our national security agencies, that somehow these provisions will substantially benefit national security outcomes. The government cannot point to one document or one authenticated piece of information that even remotely suggests that this bill will enhance Australia's security.

I do not want any more lectures from government MPs about how they 'feel' that this is the way to go or that this is the right 'vibe'. Provide the evidence! What are you basing this on? Because you think it's a good idea?

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