George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The government and, I am sure, all senators, condemn extremism in all its forms. We condemn extremism in the name of any particular faith or cause or doctrine. One of the reasons the government has moved swiftly to reform the laws that protect Australians from terrorism is that we are determined to ensure that our laws are sufficient and fit for purpose to deal with extremism. Now, Senator Lambie, as I am sure you are aware, there is a variety of different interpretations of sharia law. There is a variety of interpretations, from what might be regarded as extreme to what would not be regarded as extreme. I would not say, Senator Lambie, that section 44 of the Constitution bears on that issue.