Senate debates Bills

National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Bill 2023; In Committee


James Paterson

James Paterson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Cyber Security

11:52 am

I rise to advise that the coalition will also be opposing this Greens amendment. It is a recommendation of Dennis Richardson which the former government has accepted, as has this government. I think it is self-evidently easy to understand how ASIO may need to have access to this information, to use this information and to share this information. To give just one hypothetical example for the benefit of the chamber, ASIO now has centralised responsibility for top-secret security clearances. Wouldn't it be obvious why ASIO might need access to and might need to share information on someone applying for a top-secret security clearance who has a conviction which might be spent but nonetheless relevant in the granting of a TS security clearance and, therefore, to a job in a highly sensitive role in the Commonwealth?

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