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

The government does not support this amendment merely because we consider it to be unnecessary. The government has already moved amendments implementing the recommendations of the PJCIS, which the Senate has now adopted, that ASIO must report to the minister of instances of material interference with the lawful use of a computer by other persons. A specific reporting requirement to the IGIS is not necessary now because the IGIS has extensive powers of inspection under the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act. The IGIS exercises this power routinely in relation to ASIO's warrants and gave evidence at the PJCIS hearing that she would continue to do so in relation to computer access powers and, as I said, Senator Leyonhjelm, following the government amendments just passed by the Senate, the matter which is the subject of your current amendment is a matter in respect of which there has to be express notification.