Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. For 18 months the government has been talking about stripping citizenship from dual citizens yet no legislation has been introduced. In fact, the only document we have seen is a leaked, blatantly political, confidential briefing. Giving that this briefing betrays bipartisanship on national security matters, why is the government trying to destroy bipartisanship rather than working together on national security?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There will be silence on my left! That includes the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I should correct some factual inaccuracies in the Leader of the Opposition's question. I first said that the government would move down this path in February, so some four months later—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

we made a commitment to bring legislation into this parliament. In this sitting fortnight legislation will be brought into this parliament to strip citizenship from terrorists who are dual nationals.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bendigo will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a very sensible thing to do—to strip citizenship from terrorists who are dual nationals—because if someone leaves this country to fight with a terrorist army in Syria and Iraq we do not want them back. We do not want them back. That is why we are so determined to strip the citizenship from terrorists who are dual nationals.

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton is warned!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a very simple proposition. The legislation will be before this parliament in this sitting fortnight. The Leader of the Opposition and any other members of the opposition who wish to be briefed will be briefed. The legislation will go off to the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I have a point of order on relevance. I asked the Prime Minister: why are you trying to destroy bipartisanship on national security?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate the interjection of the Leader of the Opposition because it gave me an opportunity to get to my briefing notes and remind members opposite—

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There will be silence on my left. That includes the member for Corio.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that in fact what we are doing is precisely what was recommended by the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, as Madam Speaker so well reminded us all last night on Q&A. Bret Walker SC said:

Consideration should be given to the introduction of a power for the Minister for Immigration to revoke the citizenship of Australians … where the Minister is satisfied that the person has engaged in acts prejudicial to Australia’s security and it is not in Australia’s interests for the person to remain in Australia.

That is exactly what we are doing. We are acting upon the recommendation of Bret Walker SC. That is what we are doing because we will never rest until we are confident that the Australian people are as safe as we can make them.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the member rising on a point of order?

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek to table the 20 January 2014—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. The member will resume his seat. There is no leave given.