Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice) Share this | Hansard source

In summing up, I would like to thank all those who have spoken on the Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill—the member for Grayndler and the shadow minister, the member for Bendigo, the member for Kingsford Smith, the member for Perth, the member for Throsby, as well as the members for Dobell, Parkes, Page, Capricornia and Forrest, whom we have just heard from. I note that the opposition supports the bill and has not moved amendments in the House. This continues the bipartisan support we have had for other security measures in relation to transport.

The purpose of the Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill is to reduce criminal influence at Australia's airports and seaports by strengthening the Aviation Security Identification Card, or ASIC, and the Maritime Security Identification Card, or MSIC, schemes by amending the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 and the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003. The ASIC and MSIC schemes are critical part of securing the aviation, maritime and offshore oil and gas sectors. This bill will prevent the use of aviation and maritime transport or offshore facilities in connection with serious or organised crime by creating an additional purpose in the aviation and maritime acts in relation to access to aviation and maritime areas and zones.

These amendments will provide the regulatory framework to support the introduction of new criteria and harmonise existing criteria for the ASIC and MSIC schemes to better target serious or organised crime related offences. The revised eligibility criteria will be set out in the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 and the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Regulations 2003. In addition to the amendments already mentioned, the Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill 2016 will clarify and align the legislative basis for undertaking security checking of ASIC and MSIC applicants and holders. It will allow for regulations to be made prescribing penalties for offences against the new serious or organised crime requirements that are consistent with existing penalty provisions across the ASIC and MSIC schemes and by inserting an additional separability provision to provide guidance to courts as to parliament's intention.

The bill will give effect to the government's election commitment to reduce criminal influence at airports and seaports. People with a relevant criminal history can never receive a security clearance to work at Australian airports or seaports. In addition, the bill completes a key action identified in the government's December 2015 response to the final report of the National Ice Taskforce to prevent serious and organised crime by strengthening the ASIC and MSIC schemes. I commend this bill to the House.

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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