Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

From what I heard of Senator McKim's speech, it's: 'Hang on, terrorist, stop your terrorist attack for five or six days while we recall parliament. Then we'll have a lengthy debate. Now, don't you do anything, terrorists. You just hold your machine guns and your bombs ready until we get parliament to address this and determine whether we should call out the Army, because the police can't deal with it. Let's get the Greens to filibuster in the debate for three or four days before you go ahead and throw your bombs.' I mean, how ridiculous but typical of the Greens, who take no interest whatsoever in the welfare and safety of Australian citizens.

I am pleased that the committee determined, with the one condition I mentioned about a better definition of 'specified circumstances', that the bill be passed. I thank the members of the committee, which included the deputy chairman, Senator Louise Pratt, Senator Jim Molan, Senator McKim, Senator Jane Hume and Senator Murray Watt. I appreciate the contribution these senators made to the recommendations of the committee. I also want to place on record my thanks to the committee secretariat for their work in supporting the committee.

I do want to thank the people who made submissions to the committee and who gave evidence to the committee. There were 16 submitters, including, amongst others, the Centre for Military and Security Law, the Northern Territory Police, the Australian Lawyers Alliance, and the Law Council of Australia. As I say, there were a number of other submitters too. I want to thank them and place on record the committee's appreciation to them for the assistance that they gave the committee. The committee recommended, subject to that specification, which has been met by the government—and I thank the government for that—that the bill be passed, so I therefore support the bill.