Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Very briefly, I can indicate my strong support for this amendment of Senator Leyonhjelm. I believe that it is important to have an adequate sunset clause. I note with interest that over the years since the PATRIOT Act was passed in the United States, more and more members of the US Congress have reservations about the extent of those powers in the PATRIOT Act. More and more Democrats, and indeed Republicans, are concerned about that act. There is a narrowing gap between those who want to maintain the PATRIOT Act in its current form and those who want to have it scrapped.

I think that having a sunset clause would force a review. The year 2025 is still quite a way away. It does not leave a gap or a hiatus in the legislation; it just alerts us to the fact that we need to thoroughly review the need for the legislation at that time.