Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday the Minister for Education admitted that he did not trust other ministers to keep cabinet discussions confidential, saying of cabinet meetings: 'One does need to be careful what they are going to say if it is going to end up in the newspapers.' So, Prime Minister, are you concerned by leaks on matters of national security at the highest levels of your government?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, because it gives me an opportunity to reassure the parliament and the people of Australia that their national security is in good hands with this government. Their national security is in very good hands with this government. This government has increased funding to our police and national-security agencies by some $1.3 billion after some $700 million was cut out from it when members opposite were in charge. This government has increased funding for our customs and border-protection services which, again, lost some $600 million when members opposite were in charge. This government has introduced four tranches of stronger national-security legislation. This government—with, I am pleased to say, the support of the opposition, in this particular instance—has dispatched a strong force to the Middle East, where we can take action, appropriate action, along with our partners and allies to disrupt, degrade and ultimately destroy the Islamist Daesh death cult. So the national security in this country is in good hands.

In this sitting fortnight the government will introduce legislation to strip citizenship from terrorists who are dual nationals. This is very important legislation.

Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Show us then!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is legislation to strip citizenship from terrorists who are dual nationals. I make this point. It is a very important point and members opposite should listen well. Anyone who takes a gun or a knife to Australians because of who we are has forfeited any right to be considered one of us. That legislation will be coming into this parliament in the next fortnight. What we are determined to do is ensure that as far as is reasonably possible if someone leaves this country to fight with a terrorist army in the Middle East they are not coming back. As far as is humanly possible, if they leave this country to fight with a terrorist army overseas they have committed the modern form of treason. They have committed the modern form of treason and they are not coming back, because they have betrayed their Australian citizenship. This is what this government is doing.

I certainly invite more questions from the opposition on this subject, because this is a topic where this government's record is very strong, indeed.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on a point of order: I ask the Prime Minister to table the legislation.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. Resume your seat, and do not abuse the standing orders again or you will remove yourself under standing order 94(a). You are warned.