Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think it is helpful in this debate to ensure that those sorts of matters are clear—that we are not intruding in respect of the argument that was raised in Sankey v Whitlam, in that the public interest still remains as a balance between that which might be available and that which might not be available to these types of matters, and in that this amendment is narrowly cast to fix what has been quite a long issue. The question which also raises itself, which should be asked, is: when did this first come to light, and when did the ACC—that is, the Australian Crime Commission—advise the minister of the issue?