Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

As I was saying, the bill will allow for regulations to be made prescribing penalties for offences against the new serious or organised crime requirements that are consistent with existing penalty provisions across the ASIC and MSIC schemes and inserting an additional severability provision to provide guidance to a court as to parliament's intention. The bill gives effect to the government's election commitment to strengthen background checking regimes to ensure that individuals with links to serious and organised crime cannot gain access to airports or seaports. This will in turn keep illegal guns off our streets and keep our communities safe.

Previously, people with a serious criminal history were able to obtain a security clearance to work at our airports and seaports. This will no longer be possible with the implementation of these legislative amendments. In addition, the bill will also complete a key action identified in the government's December 2015 response to the final report of the National Ice Taskforce to prevent serious and organised crime by strengthening the ASIC and MSIC schemes. Organised crime, in particular the importation of illegal drugs, is a serious threat to our nation. These changes are a substantial step forward in the fight to disrupt the distribution of these drugs, including ice.

This bill was previously introduced the House of Representatives on 11 February 2016. It passed the House on 16 March 2016, but lapsed at prorogation on 17 April 2016. Following referral to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee in the last parliament, the bill was recommended to progress to the Senate without amendment. The Australian government agrees with this recommendation and thanks the committee for its consideration of this complex issue.

The government does not agree with the recommendations presented by the dissenting report. The revised eligibility criteria, which this bill enables, is the culmination of extensive stakeholder consultation across the aviation and maritime sectors. This consultation concluded that extending the current ASIC and MSIC regimes is more efficient and effective than developing a new and separate scheme to counter serious or organised crime at our airports and ports. The existing ASIC and MSIC schemes are well understood by industry. Introducing a new scheme would likely impose additional costs and lead to confusion and inadvertent noncompliance.

The proposed changes will lift the threshold for less serious and lower level criminal offences. As a result more applicants are expected to be found initially eligible for an ASIC or MSIC, reducing the impact to their employment and increasing the staff available to employers. This bill not only improves the government's ability to combat transnational and domestic organised crime, but it also strengthens the schemes existing national security assessment and their ability to protect Australia's airports and ports against acts of terrorism. I urge senators to support the bill to ensure the earliest possible implementation and therefore impact of these vital measures. I thank senators for their contribution to the debate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.