Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Greens oppose schedule 2 in the following terms:

(3)    Schedule 2, page 62 (line 2) to page 63 (line 30), TO BE OPPOSED.

It was in relation to the extent to which, if there is any inconsistency between this act and Australia’s obligations under international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Australia’s obligations under those treaties prevail and override the operation of this act. That was to be inserted together with:

(2) Nothing in this Act authorises the interception of communications:

(a) of a person unless the person is suspected of engaging in the planning of, or other involvement in, terrorist acts or murder;

(b) where those communications contain information which is:

(i) the subject of legal professional privilege; or

(ii) derived from information that is the subject of legal professional privilege.

(c) where those communications contain information:

(i) the subject of doctor-patient confidential medical communications; or

(ii) derived from information that is the subject of doctor-patient confidential medical communications.

(d) of Federal or State Members of Parliament

The Greens are totally opposed to schedule 2 as it has been amended to date and will not be supporting it because it does not concur with those sentiments.