Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I want to thank my parliamentary colleagues for their contributions to the debate on the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 and to the committee process. Keeping our community safe from those who seek to do us harm is a top priority for the Albanese government. The government condemns in the strongest possible terms foreign states who seek to harm and terrify Australians. These actors seek to sow discord and division in our community and they will not be allowed to succeed. The bill amends the Criminal Code to introduce a framework to list foreign state entities as state sponsors of terrorism and respond to state terrorist acts. The bill will also provide a comprehensive suite of criminal offences addressing state sponsors of terrorism and the acts they seek to foster on our shores. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies will be provided the same powers to investigate and disrupt these threats as they have for non-state terrorist acts.

Many of my Senate colleagues have done a good job of summing up the structure of this bill and the way that it will seek to list state sponsored terrorism, so I won't go into that, but I wanted to address the second reading amendment that's been proposed by Senator Thorpe. I think it's important to put this on the record. Of course we respect Senator Thorpe, but the government will not be supporting her second reading amendment. There is no place in Australia for racism, hatred or discrimination of any kind, and we unequivocally condemn it. Every Australian, no matter their race or religion, should be able to enjoy their life in any Australian community without prejudice or discrimination. It is inappropriate to use a second reading amendment to attack or criticise our law enforcement agencies. We note that Senator Thorpe does have other mechanisms available to her to put motions to the Senate or debate this issue, and I urge the Senate to oppose this amendment.

In concluding on the bill itself, I want to reiterate that the bill sends the strongest possible signal that Australia condemns the actions of foreign states who seek to harm Australians and that any attack targeting Australians will not be tolerated. We must stand in unity against attempts to divide our society. In supporting this bill, this place would be displaying a strong resolve in defence of our sovereignty and our collective way of life. I thank the chamber.