Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The member who asked the question may be bored about the facts relating to national security but I think the Australian nation is entitled to the facts, as are members of parliament who are thinking through these questions seriously rather than dealing with them as political playthings. So for people who are seriously interested in national security and consequently seriously interested in the facts, the facts about ASIO are these. Since coming to government in 2007, this government has increased funding for ASIO by 27 per cent. Over the same period the average staffing level for ASIO has increased 32 per cent. I have had the opportunity now to lay those facts before the parliament on a number of occasions in answer to questions from the opposition. Their campaign here is one that is being pursued in defiance of the facts, and that means that it is a campaign being pursued for base political reasons not in Australia's national interest.

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