Robert Ray (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

That is all it is. I cannot deliver anything else. In an otherwise splendid contribution from Senator Bartlett, he repeated one piece of nonsense that really has to be addressed. He indicated that someone may be at a function and may know something even though they are innocent and may be subject to one of these warrants. I have to say to you, Senator Bartlett: read the legislation. It is only when all other alternative methods of collection have been expended that these warrants kick in. What would happen in the circumstances you have described is that ASIO would come knocking on the person’s door, have a cup of tea with them and have a discussion. It is only when they suspect the information has deliberately not been divulged that a warrant would be issued. It simply does not happen that way that, just because someone has some information by being at the same function, they are suddenly subject to a warrant. You have to convince the Director-General of ASIO, the Attorney-General and the issuing authority that all other methods that could be used have been used. In those circumstances that you outlined, it certainly would not have occurred.