Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Westminster government 101: the cabinet determines the policy of the government based on a submission from the relevant minister. The relevant minister goes off to draft whatever legislation or regulations might be necessary. It then goes into the parliament, where it may or may not be examined by a committee and it is dealt with by the parliament. That is how our system of government works.

In the case of the government's absolute clear determination to strip citizenship from terrorists who are dual nationals, this decision was made by the National Security Committee of the cabinet. It did not need to go to the full cabinet under the Cabinet Handbook. But nevertheless, in the interests of good and open government it did go to the cabinet. The cabinet endorsed it and it was overwhelmingly supported by the party room. The legislation brief will go before our party room next week and the legislation will go into the parliament next Wednesday. The matter may or may not, depending upon what this parliament wishes, be referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security. And after the committee has reported, the legislation will be dealt with by the parliament. It is all absolutely normal; it is all absolutely in accordance with the standard conventions of this parliament.

This government knows exactly what it is doing. What does the opposition want here? When we made a decision—

Opposition members interjecting—

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