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

I do not want to prolong this. I was first asked by the National Security Committee of cabinet to develop these proposals in the middle of the year. It is now 28 October. I do not know what you mean by doing something very quickly, Senator Wright, but I am bound to say that in the time that has been available in the last several months there has been more than sufficient time for me and for those who advise me within the Attorney-General's Department and within ASIO and the national security agencies and for my own staff to look with great care and deliberation at these proposals. What we bring to the parliament is the result of an enormous body of work that has been undertaken in a very thorough and calm and professional and methodical way. So, the suggestion that this has been done quickly, with respect, is not right.

It is an urgent matter, but an urgent matter can still be done with appropriate careful deliberation and an enormous body of work, for which those who advise me have been responsible, and I will at the end of this debate take the opportunity to thank them. But Senator, what you have in this, as in the first tranche of legislation and as you will see soon in the next tranche of legislation, is the fruit of very careful, methodical and professional deliberation by those who are skilled in this field.