Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present an advisory report to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia's Transport Sector) Bill 2024, and I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

I want to spend a very brief moment here to say thank you to everyone that did present and make a submission to the PJCIS inquiry. The bill that's before the Senate seeks to amend the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 and the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003. Threats to Australia's transport security have evolved since these acts were first introduced more than 20 years ago. Whilst terrorism and serious crime persist as threats, it's prudent to consider the other risks that could cause serious disruption to our national security.

Many systems used in the transport industries have evolved to digital settings. This dependence on network connectivity means that malicious cyberactivity is a real and present threat. Globally we've seen acts of foreign interference and espionage disrupt our systems. With over 99 per cent of Australian imports arriving by sea, it's imperative that our ports are resilient to any threat that could impact their operations. Only a few years ago, our nation felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our supply chains as the availability of certain imports declined.

Aviation transport security is also of great importance. Australians value our freedom of movement, and, due to the vast size of our country, we're often dependent on air travel. Security threats to our airport infrastructure and airlines that keep the country connected must be mitigated. Substantial transport security reform is timely, and, prior to the introduction of this bill, significant work and consultation was undertaken by the Department of Home Affairs and the maritime and aviation industries. A careful balance needs to be struck between the need of the Australian government to mitigate evolving threats to national security and, at the same time, to ensure that the transition to a new transport security framework doesn't create confusion or generate a disproportionate regulatory burden in the aviation and maritime sectors.

The committee made several recommendations for the government to consider, including recommendations that related to the Department of Home Affairs's role and the need to continue industry consultations so that any changes to subsequent regulations are clear and accessible, that the department helps reduce the regulatory burden on industry through guidance and training and that the duplication of reporting requirements across Commonwealth agencies be addressed, notably in relation to cyber reporting. The committee also makes recommendations to amend the bill itself, relating to reporting self-related offences, safeguards around the use of expanded security direction powers and the consideration of an extended implementation framework for smaller affected entities. The committee recommends that, subject to implementation of these recommendations, the bill be passed.

On behalf of the committee, once again, I thank those who did participate in this inquiry, and I commend the report to the Senate. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.