Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

This government has not got any legislation coming through. I am trying to assist. One of the things I would ask the minister to explain to the House and to the parliament is why, in the legislation considered by the Senate, was the definition 'serious or organised' crime? Now the proposed amendment is just 'serious crime'. Is there a distinction between the two? If there is no distinction between the two, why is it that originally the legislation was drafted to include 'serious or organised crime'? This is a fundamental issue. People can be critical and ask why we are seriously taking up these issues. This is a piece of legislation that arose from an ice task force report that was then considered by a joint committee that recommended unanimously 'serious and organised crime'. The Minister for Justice sat as part of that committee. It then took some time to have the legislation brought before the House. It then took some time for the legislation to be debated. It then had a consideration through the proper Senate processes, including submissions being considered. We then had the Senate determine to use the definition that has been used in the ice task force report and by the joint parliamentary committee. And, now, we have a different definition again that completely removes 'organised crime'.

I ask the minister to respond to the query that we have as members of parliament who have a duty to take these issues seriously: if 'serious crime' is the appropriate definition, why is it that the legislation that has been considered up until now included 'serious or organised crime'?

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