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

Senator Lambie, if I may say so with respect, I think I do understand those provisions very well; and I hope I also understand very well the more specific provisions which have a direct bearing on the question of foreign fighters to which I referred in my answer to your primary question, because I was involved in the drafting of those provisions myself. So I certainly hope I understand them.

Senator Lambie, you are absolutely right to identify the gravity of these circumstances. You are absolutely right in your acknowledgment by implication that the government has, by the measures that you supported in the Senate last year, acted swiftly and properly to deal with the threat by introducing these provisions and expanding their reach. But, as I said a moment ago, it is not for me; it is for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to make these decisions.