David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, obviously if he is applying for a permit he realises he is dealing with something that is sensitive and in breach. But if he does not realise that and he is out there as a researcher doing research into something that is not defence-related, but publishes something with respect to that work that is being developed in another area—and can I tell you that this is very common?—he will be caught under this section even though he has no intent to breach the legislation.

This concerns me greatly. I do not expect you to make any changes now. I am drawing it to your attention so that the working group can deal with this, because I am absolutely convinced you need to put an intention clause in there so that it is, as I say, an intentional publication.

You talk about the public interest. I note that is a very subjective term. What do we see, if anything, the minister considering in the public interest?