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

by leave—I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments to be moved to this bill, which was circulated in the chamber on 19 November 2009, and move those amendments I have spoken to, (1) to (15) on sheet BD213:

(1)    Clause 3, page 2 (lines 12 and 13), omit paragraph (c), substitute:

             (c)    is consistent with Australia’s international obligations, including:

                   (i)    human rights obligations; and

                  (ii)    counter-terrorism obligations; and

                 (iii)    international security obligations; and

(2)    Clause 4, page 2 (before line 18), before the definition of counter-terrorism and national security legislation, insert:

Committee on Intelligence and Security means the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security established under the Intelligence Services Act 2001.

(3)    Clause 4, page 4 (after line 6), after the definition of head, insert:

National Security Legislation Monitor means the person appointed in accordance with section 11.

(4)    Clause 4, page 4 (lines 26 and 27), omit the definition of National Security Legislation Monitor.

(5)    Clause 6, page 6 (line 9), after “review”, insert “, on his or her own initiative,”.

(6)    Clause 6, page 6 (lines 15 to 19), omit paragraph (1)(b), substitute:

             (b)    to consider, on his or her own initiative, whether any legislation mentioned in paragraph (a):

                   (i)    contains appropriate safeguards for protecting the rights of individuals; and

                  (ii)    remains proportionate to any threat of terrorism or threat to national security, or both; and

                 (iii)    remains necessary;

(7)    Clause 6, page 6 (after line 22), after subclause (1), insert:

     (1A)    If a matter is referred to the National Security Legislation Monitor by the Committee on Intelligence and Security, the Monitor may perform the function set out in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) in relation to the matter.

(8)    Heading to clause 7, page 7 (line 4), omit the heading, substitute:

7  References to the National Security Legislation Monitor by the Prime Minister

(9)    Page 7 (after line 11), after clause 7, insert:

7A  References to the National Security Legislation Monitor by the Committee on Intelligence and Security

        (1)    The Committee on Intelligence and Security may refer to the National Security Legislation Monitor a matter that the Committee:

             (a)    becomes aware of in the course of performing its functions under subsection 29(1) of the Intelligence Services Act 2001; and

             (b)    considers should be referred to the Monitor.

        (2)    It is a function of the Committee on Intelligence and Security to refer the matter to the National Security Legislation Monitor.

(10)  Clause 8, page 7 (lines 16 and 17), omit paragraph (a), substitute:

             (a)    Australia’s obligations under international agreements (as in force from time to time), including:

                   (i)    human rights obligations; and

                  (ii)    counter-terrorism obligations; and

                 (iii)    international security obligations; and

(11)  Clause 10, page 8 (lines 13 and 14), omit paragraph (2)(a).

(12)  Clause 10, page 8 (after line 16), after paragraph (2)(c), insert:

           (ca)    the Human Rights Commissioner; or

           (cb)    the Privacy Commissioner; or

           (cc)    the head of an agency established by a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory; or

(13)  Clause 29, page 18 (lines 4 to 7), omit subclause (1), substitute:

        (1)    The National Security Legislation Monitor must prepare and give to the Prime Minister a report (an annual report):

             (a)    relating to the performance of the Monitor’s functions as set out in paragraphs 6(1)(a) and (b); and

             (b)    containing such details relating to the performance of the Monitor’s function as set out in paragraph 6(1)(c) as the Monitor considers appropriate.

(14)  Heading to clause 30, page 19 (line 19), omit the heading, substitute:

30  Report on a reference by the Prime Minister

(15)  Clause 30, page 19 (line 21), at the end of subclause (1), add “made under section 7”.

Chair, I suggest we deal first with amendments (1) and (10), (2), (5) to (9) and (14) to (15).