Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Prime Minister for Social Inclusion) Share this | Hansard source

Can I too thank Senator Brandis and Senator Stott Despoja for their contributions to the debate on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2008. Their contributions show that even miscellaneous matters can be interesting. First of all, I will just take a few moments to address the points that have been raised. This bill contains three minor but very necessary amendments to Commonwealth criminal law. The first amendment, as Senator Stott Despoja so rightly said, is a correction of a legislative error on the part of the previous government and re-inserts the maximum penalty of two years imprisonment for the secrecy offences in subsection 60A(2) of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979. I note the Democrats ongoing concern about retrospective measures, but I am pleased that the Attorney-General and the Minister for Home Affairs have been able to reassure Senator Stott Despoja that there are no matters outstanding that would be affected by this retrospectivity.

The second measure relates to part ID of the Crimes Act 1914. We know of course that the follow-up should have occurred and will now occur with a more assessable DNA database, and that seems to be a very sensible provision in this amendment. The final amendment to the Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991, which was the subject of Senator Stott Despoja’s riveting conclusion, relates to the issue of Jervis Bay and the current reference to ACT criminal laws in section 15. Those of us who are from New South Wales understand the peculiar relationship that New South Wales government legislation has with the area around Jervis Bay, which is covered by the ACT Criminal Code under the Jervis Bay act. This amendment will introduce a regulation making power into section 15 of the Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991. It is an important and not so minor amendment to this legislation. I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.