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

Senator Milne, you should read the bill. If you want to participate in this debate, it would really be helpful if you read the bill. If you had read the bill, you would be aware that there is an 18-month implementation period for this metadata-storage regime. Well before that 18-month implementation period has run its course, the telecommunications sector security reform legislation will have been enacted—subject, of course, to the will of the Senate—because it will be introduced and deliberated upon before the end of this calendar year. That is the answer to your first question. In relation to the second question, I do not understand that there is an audit function or obligation under the Privacy Act but, in preparing the TSSR legislation, I will bear in mind the observation that you have made.