House debates Questions without Notice
National Security
Michelle Landry Capricornia, National Party
2:03 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on action the government is taking to further strengthen Australia's national security?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I thank the member for Capricornia for her question. The safety of our community is the first duty of government and that means giving our police and security agencies the powers they need to keep our people safe. It means giving them access to the information they need to do their job. As I am sure most members now know, telecommunications metadata—or data about data—is the vital ingredient in almost all serious crime investigations. I am advised by the Australian Federal Police that between July and September last year metadata was used in 100 per cent of cybercrime investigations—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Really!
Honourable members interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
nine out of 10 counterterrorism investigations and nine out of 10 child abuse investigations—
Honourable members interjecting—
They are still laughing! Show a bit of respect!
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
You're not fit!
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, on a point of order: when someone wants to make a claim that people are laughing about child abuse there will be a reaction!
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member will resume his seat.
Mr Burke interjecting—
Resume your seat.
Mr Burke interjecting—
The member for Watson will remove himself under 94(a).
The member for Watson then left the chamber.
Mark Dreyfus Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General
Madam Speaker, on a point of order: I would ask that the Prime Minister withdraw the outrageous imputation against the Labor Party.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There was nothing to withdraw. The member will resume his seat. You can take a look at the tape and see for yourself the behaviour that was going on. You can do it after question time.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I am happy to withdraw because the last thing I want to do—
Mr Snowdon interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I am happy to withdraw because the last thing I want to do is bring about needless contention in this chamber. I was simply referring to the advice I have from the Australian Federal Police that metadata was used in 100 per cent of cybercrime investigations. That seemed to promote tittering and yahooing from members opposite. I went on to say that nine out of 10 counterterrorism investigations and nine out of 10 child abuse investigations—and something was happening on the other side of the chamber.
In a recent European investigation into a big paedophile ring, the UK was able to convict 121 offenders using metadata. In contrast, the Germans, who have no metadata retention regime, could not convict a single perpetrator. Because changing business practices mean that the telecommunications providers are keeping less and less metadata for shorter and shorter times, it is important that we pass the legislation that is currently before the parliament. It is very important that we pass this legislation to ensure that telecommunications providers keep metadata records for up to two years.
I thank the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security, particularly the member for Wannon, for the good work, and I acknowledge the good work of the Attorney-General and the Minister for Communications. This is important legislation. It is a serious subject and the legislation needs to be passed— (Time expired)