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

I want to thank all senators for their contributions to this debate on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative Powers and Witness Protection) Bill 2006 [2007]. The bill makes important amendments to the law relating to the investigation of criminal activity and the protection of witnesses. The majority of proposed amendments that I will be moving later on, when this bill comes on, come in response to recommendations by the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, and I thank that committee for their comprehensive report.

I would like to respond to a few of the items mentioned in today’s debate. By advancing this bill, the Australian government is fulfilling the government’s election commitment to have a national model of legislation on assumed identities, controlled operations and the protection of witness identity. The learned senator on the opposition side with custody of this matter, Senator Ludwig, made the point that we are going to leave open the possibility of the government adding additional offences to schedules by regulation. I am surprised that the learned senator has not read the government’s amendments, because 15GE(3)—