Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the minister for her answer. I say to Senator Hanson, just to correct the record: Labor have not said they are opposing the Transport Security Amendment (Serious Crime) Bill 2020. What we have said is we're actually here to facilitate the passage of the aviation portion, and that we are in fact seeking to strengthen the bill by providing appropriate security clearances for foreign crew on flag-of-convenience vessels. I don't know whether Senator Hanson heard me earlier, but those crew can get a clearance in less than 24 hours, whereas for an Australian worker it sometimes can take up to three months to get a clearance. We think there's a disparity there; a gaping hole that needs to be closed. That's what our amendments are seeking to do. I would hope that senators in the chamber would have a listen to the debate. It is an important one.

I thank the minister for her answers. She didn't particularly directly answer my question about the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's finding in 2017 that, in fact, foreign crew on flag-of-convenience vessels do pose a serious risk in terms of organised crime syndicates and terrorists, and that there are features of flag-of-convenience registration, regulation and practice that organised crime syndicates or terrorists may seek to exploit. Those aren't my words; those were the words of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in 2017. Since 2017 I can see no change the government has made to security clearances for foreign crew.

So I come back to my original question. I thank the minister for all her previous answers, but my question was: does the government agree with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's 2017 finding:

There are features of flag of convenience registration, regulation and practice that organized crime syndicates or terrorists may seek to exploit.