House debates

Monday, 1 June 2015

Questions without Notice

National Security

2:07 pm

Photo of Tanya PlibersekTanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer once again to the cabinet leak on national security. Can the Prime Minister confirm the 10-day cabinet rule was not followed and does the Prime Minister agree with his communications minister that the cabinet is a shambles?

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Again I make the point that the government has an absolutely clear position when it comes to terrorists with dual citizenship. We have an absolutely clear position when it comes to terrorists with dual citizenship—they will lose their Australian citizenship. It is a very, very clear position from the government—terrorists with dual citizenship will be stripped of their Australian nationality.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will desist.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Again I ask the Leader of the Opposition what is his position? Does he want to allow terrorists with dual nationality to keep their Australian citizenship? That is the question.

Mr Albanese interjecting

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will desist.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

This is a government which has a very strong record when it comes to national security. We have spent something like $1.3 billion to improve the performance of our national security agencies—

Photo of Mr Tony BurkeMr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Could the Prime Minister table the legislation he is referring to? No-one has seen it.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

There is no point of order, and you know perfectly well there is no point of order. You can consider yourself warned.

Photo of Tony AbbottTony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, plainly members opposite would rather shout than listen, so I simply make the point that this is a government which has invested an additional $1.3 billion in strengthening our police and national security agencies and this is a government which has successfully put through the parliament four tranches of improved counter-terrorist legislation. We have just appointed a Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and, within a fortnight, we will have introduced into the parliament legislation to strip terrorists who are dual nationals of their Australian citizenship. I expect members opposite to give us support on this important measure.