Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I also table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2015 Autumn SITTINGS

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014

Purpose of the Bill

To amend the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (the TIA Act) to standardise the types of telecommunications data that service providers must retain under the TIA Act for law enforcement and national security purposes and the period of time for which that information must be held.

Reasons for Urgency

To combat terrorism at home, and to prevent Australians committing terrorist acts abroad, Australia's law enforcement and intelligence agencies' powers must respond to technological change and evolving threats. Changing technology and business models mean that telecommunications providers are keeping fewer records about communications and for less time.

The reforms contained in the Bill are the third element of the package of national security reforms announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014.

The reforms are essential to maintain the capability of national security and law enforcement agencies in the current heightened security environment. The passage of a mandatory data retention scheme will ensure that evidence vital to police and intelligence investigations is not lost.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security reported on the Bill on 27 February 2015 and recommended that the Bill be passed. The PJCIS noted that current investigative capability is being affected and that the measures contained in the Bill will address key challenges.