Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. As I said at the outset of question time today, I acknowledge, and the government acknowledges, the anxiety that has been felt throughout the community from the very moment that the High Court made its decision. From that moment, we have been looking at everything we can in respect of ensuring that the steps that we take are legally robust. We do nothing to promote community safety by taking steps in this place which will not survive legal challenge, and that's to state the most obvious fact.

We have, from the very first moment, put those people who are in the community into the community under the strictest conditions. From there we have taken the steps we have taken today in terms of moving legislation which places further conditions on those people. We will continue to look at options, but we will do so in a way where what we pass here is legally robust and maintains the safety of the community.

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