Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move government amendments (18) and (19) on sheet PA337:

(18)  Schedule 5, item 35, page 85 (lines 1 to 5), omit the item, substitute:

35 Section 82

Repeal the section.

(19)  Schedule 5, page 85 (after line 5), at the end of the Schedule, add:

36 At the end of paragraph 86(1)(a)

Add “and”.

37 After paragraph 86(1)(b)

Insert:

        and (ba)     is entitled to have full and free access at all reasonable times to the General Register and the Special Register; and

38 Paragraph 86(1)(c)

After “agency”, insert “or the General Register or Special Register”.

39 At the end of section 86

Add:

        (3)    The Ombudsman’s powers include doing anything incidental or conducive to the performance of any of the Ombudsman’s functions under this Part.

These amendments repeal section 82 and modify section 86 of the Telecommunications (Interception) Act to ensure that the Commonwealth Ombudsman will have access to the warrant register compiled by the Attorney-General’s Department, to fulfil the important oversight functions under the interception regime. These amendments ensure the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s continued ability to have stringent oversight of the use of the interception regime by Commonwealth law enforcement agencies. These are straightforward amendments and I commend them to the committee.