Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

Of course the government does not support these amendments. The bill intentionally applies to not only the Cole inquiry’s records but also the records of all commissions under the Royal Commissions Act 1902.

The government considers that it is sensible to provide, as this bill does, a framework in which a transfer of relevant records can occur much more quickly by virtue of regulations, rather than needing a bill each time it is required. The government amended this bill in the other place to limit the persons to whom the records may be given and the purposes for which they might be used and accessed—essentially for law enforcement purposes. It may be that, at some future time, transfer may be required urgently at a time when parliament is in recess, and this bill enables that. Regulations to facilitate early access to relevant records by law enforcement bodies would still be subject to parliamentary scrutiny and the usual disallowance provisions. I can only reiterate the assurance that I gave previously, but the government remains opposed to the Democrat amendments.

Question negatived.

Bill agreed to.

Bill reported without amendment; report adopted.