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

You are right when you say that the principal committee consideration of this bill has been by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The first report—that is, the report of the previous parliament—was prepared after there had been nine full hearing days, which is, by anyone's measure, a very long committee hearing process. The report of the PJCIS that was tabled on 27 February was also the subject of extensive hearings—in fact, public hearings.

Senator Leyonhjelm, it is the case that the PJCIS does not at the moment contain any members of the Senate crossbench. It is not a committee that excludes independent members of parliament. For instance, Mr Andrew Wilkie was a member of the PJCIS throughout the course of the entire inquiry during the last parliament, which was the genesis of this legislation. The composition of the PJCIS, like the composition of all parliamentary committees, whether joint or committees of either chamber, are a matter of deliberation between government, opposition and independents and crossbenchers. I do not, with respect, think it reflects poorly on the process that the members of the committee on this occasion did not include any of the Senate crossbenchers. As you rightly point out, we look like we are having a very long committee stage debate, in which I am available to you to respond to any questions you may have. But the composition of any parliamentary committee cannot guarantee that any individual minor party or independent member will be a member of that committee, and I think you understand that.