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

I thank all members who have participated in this debate on the Criminal Code Amendment (War Crimes) Bill 2016. National security does deserve a bipartisan approach from this parliament. To date, this parliament has provided that approach and I think it is a good reflection on the fact that, in this vitally important policy area, we can work together to make sure that Australia is as safe as we can possibly make it.

Passage of the Criminal Code Amendment (War Crimes) Bill 2016 will ensure that the Australian Defence Force can conduct targeted operations against organised armed groups, such as the military arm of Daesh, to the extent permitted by international humanitarian law. These amendments also provide important legal certainty for ADF personnel in undertaking those operations. As the Prime Minister outlined in the House today in his address to parliament on national security and counterterrorism, this bill is part of a suite of actions taken by the government to empower our agencies and our defence forces to keep us safe. The bill has been subjected to careful scrutiny by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, which concluded that the amendments would provide appropriate protection for civilians, while maintaining the capacity to conduct operations against legitimate military targets.

I did not have the opportunity to listen to every contributor to this debate, although I did catch a lot of what the member for Canberra said. She reminded us about the barbarity of the enemy that we are facing and the sexual violence, the enslavement of women and men—imagine an organisation that has been brought back slavery on an industrial scale—and the crucifixions. I had a very productive meeting with the King of Jordan this afternoon and, during that meeting, I learnt that one of his pilots was put in a cage and burnt alive, and that that was then used as propaganda in the course of the Islamic State. They throw homosexuals from roofs if they are discovered. What they inflict on the populations that have been under their control is an affront to basic human decency.

We should be very proud of the fact that the Australian Defence Force is out there targeting them, killing them and ultimately defeating them. These are people who are pure evil. I do not say that in any hyperboles way; look at their actions. We do need to call it out for what it is and we should all join together to support the work that the ADF is doing. This bill makes sure that the ADF are not subject to any legal ramifications as a result of their very deliberate, targeted and effective actions in defeating this barbaric enemy.

I thank the House for the support that this bill has been given, and I appreciate that the House can come together to assist the passage of important amendments such as these.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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