David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Hansard source

This is at the core of the dilemma. That's essentially what you said in your summing up as well—except that section 92.2(1)(d) says: 'any part of the conduct … is covert'. It doesn't limit the covert conduct to communications directed at the Australian government or the Australian political process. On my reading of the bill, any part of the conduct would include communication with the foreign principal. I'm struggling to understand how you can interpret it in the way that you're describing. Perhaps you can help me there.