Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I think it is important to remember that this government does not take a set-and-forget approach to national security. Today we have introduced the Intelligence Services Act Amendment Bill to increase the ability of the officers and agents of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service to protect both themselves and others. Successive governments have asked ASIS to do more in response to national security priorities in new places and in new circumstances which were unforeseen 14 years ago when the legislation concerning ASIS was last amended. These legislative changes introduced today will enable the minister—in this case, the foreign minister—to specify additional persons, such as hostages, who may be protected by an ASIS staff member or agent, and will allow an ASIS officer to be able to use reasonable force in the course of their duties. The changes mean that officers will be able to protect a broader range of people and use reasonable force if someone poses a risk to an operation. (Time expired)