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

The government will not be supporting your amendments, Senator Xenophon. I am a little surprised, if I may so, given your support for Senator Lazarus's amendments, that you would persist with these amendments—because what you said about Senator Lazarus's amendments applies equally to these provisions. The disclosure of the identity of an officer and the disclosure of activities under the provision you seek to amend are, I would submit to you, criminal behaviour of equivalent gravity. For that reason, the government will not be supporting your amendment.