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

I thank senators for their support for this amendment. I anticipate that Senator Ludwig has jumped forward to deal with the opposition amendment. I simply say, in the hope of expediency in dealing with that amendment, that, as a division of the Attorney-General’s Department, AusCheck is required to publish information on its performance in the Attorney-General’s Department annual report and the portfolio budget statements. It is subject to scrutiny in the annual report, as a published document, and portfolio budget statements are open to the three estimates sittings every year. In this way, the oversight function and its performance can be monitored very extensively by the parliament. This information will include application numbers and processing times, as well as any significant issues that have arisen in the delivery of background checking services.

I am happy to indicate that the Attorney-General’s Department annual report will include information of the type listed in the opposition amendments to the extent consistent with the privacy constraint. I trust that goes some way towards satisfying the issues raised by Senator Ludwig, to some extent in anticipation of the principal area of concern of the opposition.

Question agreed to.

by leave—I move government amendments (4) and (5) on sheet PJ361 together:

(4)    Clause 5, page 3 (line 14), omit paragraph (d), substitute:

             (d)    verification checks of documents relating to the identity of the individual.

(5)    Clause 8, page 4 (line 4) to page 6 (line 2), omit the clause, substitute:

8  Establishment of AusCheck scheme

                 The regulations may provide for the establishment of a scheme (the AusCheck scheme) relating to the conduct and coordination of background checks of individuals, and the verification of documents:

             (a)    for the purposes of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 or regulations under that Act; and

             (b)    for the purposes of the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 or regulations under that Act.