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

Senator Wright, if you want to ask your questions, go ahead and ask them and I will respond to them. That is the most efficient way to conduct this debate. But do not deny that you are filibustering and then spend the next five minutes avoiding putting questions.

Senator Ludlam, you should know that the proposition you put is preposterous. Section 6(4) of the Intelligence Services Act contains an absolute prohibition against those agencies engaging in acts of violence. There is no way at all that these amendments can limit or confine or otherwise qualify the operation of the absolute terms of section 6(4), which is not the subject of amendment at all. I explained that, by the way, Senator, in winding up the second reading debate, but you were not in the chamber. So the issue has already been addressed in this debate; but since you raise it again, the answer to your question, 'Is it the Australian government's intention to use this legislation to target people?' is that it is a preposterous suggestion which I dismiss with complete contempt. Section 6(4) of the Intelligence Services Act, which is absolute in its terms, is absolutely unaffected by this legislation.

In relation to the further progress of this debate: Senator Wright, if you are the principal spokesman for the Greens, I am making a note of each of your questions as we progress through. I suggest that rather than comment on your questions you just put the questions and sit down and I will then answer the questions.