Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water (Senate)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (International Crime Cooperation and Other Measures) Bill 2018 on behalf of the opposition. I inform the chamber that we will be supporting this bill. It's omnibus criminal justice legislation designed to address inconsistencies and issues in our federal criminal law. The key focus of the bill is international crime cooperation: the way we work with and assist other nations and international organisations to tackle crime and human rights abuses. The bill expands the assistance we provide to the International Criminal Court and international war crimes tribunals. We note in relation to the Criminal Court that it brings to justice some of the worst people in the world, those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The international war crimes tribunals perform a similarly important role, trying those accused of committing atrocities and crimes against humanity, such as genocide, torture and rape, during war. These bodies perform important human rights work protecting human rights and enforcing international criminal law. Australia's capacity to provide assistance through these bodies with their investigations and prosecutions—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! It being 2 pm, we will move to questions without notice.