George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Wright, I do not find anything odd about entitling a bill 'allegiance to Australia', and I am surprised that you do. The purpose of the law is to deal with terrorism. That is what this government is committed to doing. We are committed to doing everything we need to do to keep Australians safe.

I am aware of the commentary to which you refer. Might I point out, Senator Wright, that the relevant provision of the Criminal Code which is referenced in the bill also applies to the destruction of Commonwealth buildings. Of course we are not interested in minor or trivial crime. But you should be aware, Senator Wright, because the Prime Minister has said so many times, that this very building, Commonwealth property, has been the subject of threats from terrorism. One of the most important terrorism raids that resulted in several arrests some years ago was a plot directed to the Holsworthy Army Barracks, other Commonwealth premises. So of course the legislation is going to deal with the protection of the targets of terrorism, which include Commonwealth places.

The legislation, which has received the approval, by the way, of the Solicitor-General, whose opinion I have with me, has been already referred by me to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. On each occasion when the government has introduced national security legislation, we have referred it to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for review. The reason we have done so is that we believe that the parliament, not just the government, has a role in looking at this legislation carefully, and if review of some particular clauses and their breadth is required, no doubt the committee will so observe. (Time expired)