Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

This bill must be supported in this place and in the other place. The bill sets the terms by which Australians of counterterrorism interest return to Australia, gives authority over when and how they enter Australia and provides checks on them when they are here. In relation to the Counter-Terrorism (Temporary Exclusion Orders) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2019, the bill complements the Counter-Terrorism (Temporary Exclusion Orders) Bill 2019 by introducing additional accountability and transparency measures for the temporary exclusion order scheme in response to the recommendations made by the PJCIS. Specifically, it provides that it is a function of the committee to monitor and review the exercise of power under the scheme and to review the operation and effectiveness of the scheme within three years of its commencement. The bill also enables the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor to review the operation, effectiveness and implications of the scheme. The passage of that bill will assist in ensuring that there is an appropriate balance between those critical measures needed to protect the Australian community and the safeguards and accountability measures necessary to ensure public confidence in the TEO scheme.

In particular, can I say thank you to and acknowledge the tireless effort of staff from the Department of Home Affairs, from ASIO, the Australian Federal Police, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and all of those people who have been involved in putting in a significant effort to work on this legislation. Also, I'd like to record my thanks to the PJCIS for their ongoing work. I very much commend this bill to the House.

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