George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Wong. I refer to the report in this morning’s Fairfax newspapers that said:

Kevin Rudd toughened his terrorism blueprint to highlight the threat from jihadist and home-grown terror despite resistance from officials within his department and the Attorney-General’s Department who were concerned the language was inflammatory and counter-productive—

and, further, that the Prime Minister insisted that the counterterrorism white paper should contain an ‘announcable’. Minister, why did the Prime Minister try to ‘sex up’ Australia’s counterterrorism white paper? Is this not yet another example of the Rudd government’s addiction to political spin before policy substance?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The short answer to the question is no. I would just like to refer Senator Brandis, and those on the other side who might want to consider simply asking questions because of what is in the papers, to the following facts in relation to terror threats which have been locally generated. In 2005, nine men in Sydney were arrested and charged with terrorism offences—all nine were convicted. In 2006, an Australian national, Faheem Lodhi, was convicted of planning terrorist attacks in Australia during 2003. In September 2008, a Sydney man was convicted of collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts. In 2006, 13 men in Melbourne were arrested and charged with terrorism offences—nine were convicted of being members of a terrorist organisation. In 2000, Australian national Jack Roche was tasked by senior al-Qaeda operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to identify Israeli and Jewish targets in Australia, and in 2001 the same gentleman applied for and was granted a visa to visit Australia which was cancelled before he could travel. Perhaps the opposition could answer this question: given those facts, what is exaggerated about the fact that we do face home-grown and locally generated terrorism threats?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Minister, why does the counterterrorism white paper have virtually nothing to say about the risk to Australian security posed by people smuggling? Why was the issue ignored by the white paper at the very time the government was proposing to amend the ASIO Act to extend it to people smuggling? Does the government not accept that border protection is a vital element of counterterrorism policy? Is it the government’s position that people smuggling is a national security issue—yes or no?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is interesting that on the one hand Senator Brandis is accusing us of being too tough by, I think his words were ‘sexing up’—

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I use your words, not mine—and then on the other he is saying the opposite.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! When there is silence, we will proceed. If people want to debate the issue then, as I said, the time to debate the issue is at the end of question time.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I would refer Senator Brandis to the legislation that the government has introduced, the Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill, which is specifically designed to strengthen the government’s anti-people-smuggling legislative framework and support our plan to combat people smuggling. It enables ASIO to use its intelligence and analytical capabilities in relation to people smuggling and other serious border security threats. ASIO will operate in close cooperation with Australia’s law enforcement and other national security agencies. The bill will also enable Australia’s national security agencies to collect foreign intelligence about nonstate actors, including people smugglers and their networks. We look forward to the opposition supporting the legislation and supporting the government in its plans and its objectives to protect— (Time expired)

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, is it not the case that ASIO will be required to support its proposed additional responsibilities to combat people smuggling from existing funding, thereby diverting resources away from ASIO’s other intelligence functions? Will not ASIO’s capabilities be diminished as its resources are spread more thinly? Is this not yet another example of the Rudd government’s all talk and no action style?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the shadow minister knows, counterterrorism will remain ASIO’s top priority and neither the legislation which I have outlined nor the white paper will alter that. Obviously counterterrorism will remain ASIO’s top priority. The reality is that we are dealing with a whole range of matters, both on the border security front and, more broadly, in counterterrorism strategies, that do require a sensible, whole-of-government approach. The government is sensibly and responsibly delivering the legislative changes which are required.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. I asked specifically whether the additional responsibilities of ASIO will be funded from existing resources or whether additional resources would be made available. The question is about resources, and I would like it answered.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask the minister to return to the question that has been asked. Minister, you have 25 seconds remaining.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I think the Attorney-General made clear today in his public statements that obviously the counterterrorism white paper is a framework, and further decisions will need to be made in the context of the budget process. What I will say about the opposition is that their inconsistency on this position is demonstrated by the three different questions that Senator Brandis asked. On the one hand he is accusing us of talking up this issue, and on the other hand he is saying we are not doing enough. (Time expired)