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

I said a moment ago to you, Senator Hanson, that there have been very few control orders issued since this scheme came into operation in 2004. I am advised that there have been six. Some states also have control order regimes. So these are control orders issued under Commonwealth law. In the last 12 years there have been only six, and I do not think any of them have been in relation to minors. We spend a lot of time in this chamber debating control orders and preventative detention orders, and we should because these are unusual orders, but I would not want any senator to have the impression that this is a routine procedure. It is far from it, and the fact that only six have been issued in 12 years tells you what an unusual procedure it is.