Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Attorney, I refer to representations made to the government by national broadcasters, publishers, journalists and the Australian Press Council that the government's policy of mandatory data retention poses a threat to press freedom through warrantless access to the phone and internet records of journalists and their sources. Does the Attorney-General agree that his data retention bill poses a threat to investigative journalism; and, more importantly, will he commit to postponing parliamentary debate on the bill until after the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has reported on these matters in early June?