Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Paterson, I think I've already answered that question by saying that the Attorney-General has requested advice on whether a government-wide ban is required to address protective security risks. Of course, being government-wide, that does involve every part of this government and every agency, including the ones that you referred to.

But, again, why is Senator Paterson only asking about these issues now, when he's on the opposition benches? Why didn't Senator Paterson or anyone else—why didn't Senator Ruston, why didn't Senator Cash, why didn't Senator Payne, why didn't Senator Hume, why didn't Senator Duniam, why didn't Senator Henderson or why didn't, among others, Senator McKenzie—think that this was an issue important enough to ask about when they were actually in government and having these cameras installed? That was fine, but now, after the event, it's worthy of asking questions! These are serious matters, no doubt about it, and that's exactly why the Albanese government is taking action, unlike the former Morrison-Turnbull-Abbott-and-whoever-else-there was government.