Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I note Senator Paterson's remarks and endorse them and associate myself with them. For those who may be following this discussion, I note that the report that we are tabling here is being tabled in a somewhat unusual circumstance, given the hours motion that is before the Senate today. So I'll keep my remarks short, and I do appreciate that Senator Paterson sought leave to continue, because I imagine that other members of our Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security may also wish to speak. But I feel, given that we are tabling the report here today, that it's appropriate that the Senate and the public take note that the report that is being tabled today is bipartisan and unanimously supported by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

I particularly note the two aspects of the report that Senator Paterson has pointed out: (1) to endorse the relisting of Hizballah's External Security Organisation as a terrorist organisation, and that was supported by the committee, and (2) the two recommendations to the government in the second chapter of the report that in particular go to the very question Senator Paterson was just examining, and that is whether or not there is any distinction between Hizballah's External Security Organisation and the other wings of the organisation. Again, I make clear that this is a bipartisan report, unanimously supported. In recommendation 1, the committee recommends that the Australian government give consideration to extending the listing of Hizballah's ESO as a terrorist organisation to the entirety of Hizballah, noting the position of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Arab Emirates.

I know that Senator Paterson made mention of this. But I think it's important to recognise the evidence we received from Dr Matthew Levitt, particularly in the context that, if the government does seek to accept this recommendation and consider extending the listing of Hizballah to the entirety of the organisation, it would be important to have outreach to the Lebanese diaspora community in Australia. This is an important tool that the Australian government could use to help this community understand the impact of any change in the listing of Hizballah. Dr Levitt told us that he didn't know of any country that had done anything like that in advance, and it would be really useful. He went on to say that it would mean having a plan in advance to be able to explain specifically why we are doing this and how it is that this is not against all of Lebanon, all Lebanese or, very importantly, all Shia people. I note that the committee chose to include that in their report. It's also noted in the report that the Department of Home Affairs has advised the committee that the engagement that it's had with the Australian Lebanese community has not, to date, included a discussion of the implications of listing Hizballah's ESO as a terrorist organisation. I would just note that the committee would certainly encourage and welcome that, if Home Affairs were to take that step and take on board Dr Levitt's advice.

Lastly, I would like to observe that the committee was concerned that the Minister for Home Affairs's submission to the inquiry made no mention of the committee's previous recommendations from the 2018 report and did not provide adequate evidence as to why only the ESO should continue to be listed. Hence, the importance, the committee believes, of the parliament, through the PJCIS, being briefed on the outcomes of their recommendations in this report, providing a fundamental accountability mechanism, particularly given the weight of evidence we heard from submitters in terms of both our national security agencies and members of the community, particularly the Australian Jewish community. So, in doing so, I thank Senator Paterson for his leadership, particularly on his careful consideration of this difficult issue. It is important that we act in the national interest in a bipartisan way to keep Australians safe. With the careful consideration of this report, I believe, we have come to an appropriate set of recommendations. I encourage all in the parliament and the community to consider the recommendations. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.