Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak briefly in relation to the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2023, and I want to flesh out a point that was made by my very good friend Senator Payne in relation to the scrutiny of this bill. The reality is that the government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to actually refer to this bill to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, on which I and Senator Shoebridge sit. That baffles me—it genuinely baffles me that it was so difficult to get this bill referred to the committee which myself and my good friend Senator Shoebridge sit on.

That's because the work of that committee is extraordinarily important. Those listening to this debate, those in the chamber, would have received an insight into the important work that Senate committees undertake. If you're going to propose amendments that have an impact with respect to Australia's laws relating to anti money-laundering; if you're going to propose amendments to laws relating to witness protection schemes; if you're going to propose amendments to the laws relating to the circumstances in which internationally-held prisoners, or prisoners held in overseas countries, may be transferred to Australia; and if you're going to propose amendments to laws relating to the tendering into evidence of depositions and affidavits which are sworn overseas, then those issues that need to be carefully scrutinised by the committee that has been given, delegated, the role of scrutiny by this place—by this chamber. Those laws need to be carefully scrutinised by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

My friend Senator Shoebridge has listed a number of legitimate concerns which should be aired and debated, and which will be debated, in this place. The fact is that those concerns may well have never seen the light of day but for the fact that eventually the government—dragged kicking and screaming—relented to this bill being subject to scrutiny by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee. However this chamber lands in relation to those amendments put forward by the Australian Greens, at the very least at the end of that process this chamber will have discharged its responsibility of scrutiny and discharged its responsibility of closely reviewing changes to these fundamental aspects of Australian law.