Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I thank members for their contribution to the debate on the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026, which supports the effective administration of government by updating and improving key pieces of crimes related legislation. This is critical to supporting law enforcement and related agencies to keep the community safe.

The bill will ensure that police have the necessary powers to keep passengers safe at Australia's newest airport, in Western Sydney. It will modernise the way law enforcement agencies can apply for search warrants and assistance orders. And it will ensure that the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission continue to have appropriate access to critical powers to identify and disrupt serious technology enabled criminal activity. The bill will improve the operation and efficiency of prosecution of serious drug offences, aligning Commonwealth procedures with state, territory and international approaches while retaining procedural fairness.

The bill will enhance the efficient running of Australia's federal prosecution agency by clarifying and modernising the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, including by streamlining the process of managing an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest identified by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Frameworks in the Extradition Act will be clarified and modernised to streamline processes and ensure law enforcement officers are equipped with appropriate powers to effectively perform their functions.

Finally, the bill will update terminology to modernise language and provide clarity and consistency across jurisdictions. The amendments in the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026 modernise, streamline and clarify important provisions, ensuring law enforcement and related agencies can efficiently and effectively perform their critical functions. This bill is vital to ensuring our crimes legislation remains up to date and adequately supports our agencies to keep Australians safe. I commend the bill to the chamber.

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