Ruth Webber (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Unexpectedly, it would seem that I too now have the opportunity to speak on the ASIO Legislation Amendment Bill 2006. As Senator Ludwig outlined in his contribution, the bill deals with the ASIO terrorism-related questioning and detention powers. It is claimed that it provides clarity for questioning warrants and also for warrants for questioning whilst people are in detention. It extends the sunset clause for 10 years, with a review of the legislation on 22 January 2016. As Senator Ludwig reminded us in his contribution, for those senators who joined this place at the same time as I did, the initial legislation was one of the first and one of the most controversial bills that we dealt with, and we spent an exhausting amount of time considering it.

It is important to place on record that Labor welcomes the changes to clearly distinguish between ASIO warrants for questioning and those for questioning whilst in detention, and it welcomes the subject’s access to lawyers and to the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security. But, as has been outlined—and as I am sure some of my colleagues who will follow will outline more eloquently—we are concerned that the government has not agreed to recommendations 10 and 19 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD.