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

As all honourable senators know, keeping Australians safe is this government's No. 1 priority. Last year, the government committed an additional $630 million to provide our security and law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to effectively counter and deal with terrorism planning. Our agencies will continue to work tirelessly to detect, disrupt and prosecute those who seek to do us harm. The government also provided our agencies with a range of new powers under legislative amendments to help combat the evolving terrorist threat. As I pointed out in my answer to the primary question, the advice of Commissioner Colvin of the AFP is that the arrest that was effected in Sydney late yesterday may not have been possible under the old law, but it was made possible by the reforms which this Senate passed when it passed the foreign fighters act. Might I finally say that yesterday's action again highlights the professionalism and bravery of our law enforcement and security officers.