David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. From discussions yesterday, we learnt that schedule 5 was concocted over a few days between the committee report, which didn't get to look at anything in schedule 5, and this being introduced and swiftly passed by the other place. As you can hear, the crossbench has a lot of questions about the impact of these laws and the ability of the minister to essentially determine that someone is guilty before they are put before a court. We've heard many from the government try and say: 'Those on the crossbench are on the side of rapists and murderers. They are standing in the way of this very sensible move'—that has had no scrutiny.

You point the question at us, but we're listening to the experts. We're listening to the Law Council of Australia. We're listening to ACOSS. We're listening to Aboriginal Women's Legal Services, who have very serious concerns and questions about schedule 5. What a way to make laws—rushing something through and pointing the finger at those who dare question these provisions that have been roundly slammed by legal experts and by frontline service organisations across this country.Over 100 of them signed an open letter saying: 'Hang on. This needs more scrutiny. This is not the precedent we want to set.'

At the same time, we can't even understand what sort of problem you're trying to solve here. I'm no expert in this space, but you'd think, if someone is on the run, you'd probably want them to be withdrawing money so you can see where they are. You're looking for them, but you're going to cut off their money. This makes no sense. You surely want them to be going to an ATM. I just do not understand what the Labor Party is trying to do here. These are the sorts of things you railed against in opposition and said you wouldn't touch. Now you're in government and it's full steam ahead with them.

Minister, given the very real concerns raised by stakeholders who have skin in the game, who know their stuff and who are working on the front lines or are legal experts and are worried about the precedent that this sets, will you, after this passes the Senate—because I think we're under no illusion that it won't pass—at least allow a Senate committee to look at schedule 5 and to inquire into it after its passing or at least ensure the human rights committee can look at this? We live in a country with no overarching human rights act. We know that. We know that there's a very strong case for one. But surely the Albanese Labor government is not too scared of scrutiny from a Senate committee or the human rights committee. Minister, can you commit to at least offering schedule 5 some scrutiny and allowing these stakeholders to have their say post this bill passing the Senate?