Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ludlam for his question. I will endeavour to provide some information but I do not have the substantial amount before me. I understand that the Attorney-General’s Department has been consulting with industry in relation to the continuing availability of telecommunications data for law enforcement and national security purposes. Obviously, this data collection is a valuable tool which has occasionally, under both sides of politics, been used by law enforcement agencies to identify participants in criminal networks and terrorist organisations. Data might include information which could identify parties to a communication, where and when that communication is made and the communication’s duration, but I understand it would not extend to the content of the communication. Obviously there have been very substantial changes in terms of communications technology and the way in which telecommunications companies do business. The government is keen to ensure access to this data is retained in this new communications environment.