Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Transport Security Amendment (Serious Crime) Bill 2019. I'd like to pick up on the amendment moved by the member for Ballarat where she asks how we define what is a 'serious crime—and of course, by implication, what is not a 'serious crime'.

It should be put on the Hansard record for this House that it is not a serious crime in this country for a pregnant woman to post something on Facebook protesting a government policy. That is not a serious crime. It is also not a serious crime for a mother to take her children to the beach on a hot afternoon. That is not a serious crime. It is not a serious crime in this country for a grandmother to sit on a park bench in the sun. It is not a serious crime for people to go to Queen Victoria Markets on the weekend to purchase a few fruit and vegetables. It is not a serious crime in this country to hold a protest sign that says 'Casualties of corona: common sense, freedom of speech, human rights and democracy'. And it is not a serious crime in this country for an elderly lady to hold up a sign that merely says 'Open the churches'. These are not serious crimes and they should never be considered serious crimes in any country, let alone our great Australia.

But what is a serious crime? We know that one of the serious crimes that are proliferating during lockdowns is child sexual abuse. We've heard from the Australian Federal Police that the lockdowns provide 'a rich environment' for paedophiles to operate, and they said there had been almost a 100 per cent increase in that online activity during COVID-19. I wonder, if those numbers were run through a great supercomputer, if it could see what damage is being done.

I also put it to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, that a 'serious crime' could also be a breach of article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, through the denial of medicine and medical treatment. It says:

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including … medical care …

I would also say it is a serious crime to be in breach of article 12 of the 1966 International Covenant On Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This specifically applies, and I'll read the relevant sections. It says:

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for …

…   …   …

(d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.

So a serious crime in this country would be the denial of medicine and medical treatment, but that is a debate for another day.

In the bill, the minister has clearly set out what a 'serious crime' is. Serious crimes are costing the Australian economy $47 billion per annum. Our airports and our seaports are the transportation points where organised criminals import weapons, illicit drugs and other harmful goods into Australia. Trafficking in illicit drugs puts Australia's security, our prosperity, our welfare and our communities at great risk.

This bill has been reviewed by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, which has recommended the bill be passed with an amendment to allow applications to be refused on the basis of an adverse criminal assessment. The House should not wait another moment. I commend the bill to this House and I hope it is quickly passed by this House.

See this speech in context