Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senators for their support of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences Against Children) Bill 2010, which reforms the Commonwealth child sex offences to ensure that children in Australia and internationally are better protected from abhorrent crimes. I would like to add my thanks, and the thanks of the government, to Senator Brandis’s comments in relation to the work of the Australian Federal Police and other international agencies involved in this work. Those who have to deal with these matters need to be supported. Sexual offences against children are abhorrent crimes.

But I would like to put on the record just for history that it was Senator Ludwig in opposition who tried to introduce a private senator’s bill, which did not have the support of the then government. This is an issue that is of concern to all sides of politics and not made any better by trying to score points in that regard. Having said that, I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.