Matt Thistlethwaite
Kingsford Smith · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“At the same time, the bill reduces unnecessary burden and simplifies the operation of the scheme. It reduces regulatory requirements for lower risk arrangements, including removing unnecessary approval steps for minor variations and renewals of arrangements that have already been assessed.”
“It expands our ability to manage risk, including by allowing conditions to be imposed on foreign arrangements both at the point of approval and during their operation. This provides a more flexible and proportionate response than outright refusal or cancellation.”
“It applies to state, territory and local governments and public universities, and requires notification, and in some cases approval of, arrangements with foreign entities, particularly foreign government departments, agencies and universities that lack independence in their governance.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Australia has long benefited from international engagement whether it be through education, cultural exchange, research collaboration or trade. These connections strengthen our economy, enrich our society, and extend our global influence.”
“In 2024, the government commissioned an independent review of the scheme led by Rosemary Huxtable. As part of the review, Ms Huxtable consulted widely across federal, state, territory and local governments and Australian universities to hear their views and their concerns about the operation and the structure of the scheme.”
“Its amendments would strengthen the scheme's framework by sharpening the focus on Australia's national interest and enhancing the tools available to manage risk. The bill will streamline the scheme's operation by simplifying processes and reducing administrative burden, particularly for lower risk arrangements.”
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“… … … … the challenges that we're experiencing are largely driven by increased demand. That's the view of the Business Council of Australia, a peak business body. Then we've got the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's David Alexander, who said on Monday: Fuel supply is at a national level continuing, but obviously there are hotspots where there are gaps in distribution and the government's working to plug those gaps. … … … … … the government announced it would underwrite the purchase of oil in alternative markets. … that's a very smart move by the government. That's the view of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. What have the National Farmers' Federation said about the government's plan? They said: The National Farmers' Federation welcomes the appointment of Anthea Harris as the Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator.”
“We're working with the states and territories energy representatives and the premiers and chief ministers. We've worked with business groups, farmers and the agricultural sector, and they are on board with the plan. The only ones who aren't on board with the plan seem to be the opposition. This is what the Business Council of Australia's Bran Black said on 23 March: … that's the work that Australia's companies are doing collaboratively with the government. And that's the point that I want to stress. This is a time where we really do need to adopt a 'Team Australia' moment. We need to come together, we need to be working together, we need to be collaborative, we need to be engaged and we need to recognise that it's only by being together and working together that we'll get through it.”
“We've doubled penalties for price gouging to $100 million. The ACCC has launched enforcement investigations into major fuel suppliers over anticompetitive behaviour. We've consulted the states and territories to develop a national fuel security plan endorsed by those governments, including LNP governments, and we've coordinated a response for supply by removing bottlenecks where they were occurring in the regions. As well as that, we've appointed a national fuel supply taskforce coordinator, who's working with the states and territories to ensure consistent supply and provide regular updates. But, most importantly, we're consulting with the Australian people. Our MPs and senators have been working with their communities regarding supply constraints and feeding that in to the minister for energy.”
“Rather than having a voucher system where we would have relied on the United States to not only release the fuel but then ship it to Australia, we've now got the stockpile here. Those are the actions of a responsible government for a contingency such as this. We've temporarily changed the petrol and diesel fuel standards to get more fuel flowing. We've legislated new fuel security processes and powers to allow governments to underwrite the purchase of fuel on international markets to give supply confidence and to keep buying fuel for Australia's needs. And we're engaging with international partners. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I've met with the Japanese minister, regarding fuel supplies, and representatives of the Republic of Korea to ensure fuel supplies to Australia. We're acting to stop price manipulation.”
“Today we've halved the fuel excise to 26½c a litre for three months, and that is already starting to flow through to prices at the bowser. We've cut the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero for three months to lower the cost for truckies, who are essential to keeping food on the shelves, and there is financial support as well. We're providing financial counselling for farmers, who we know are doing it tough due to supply constraints in rural and regional areas. We're also acting to increase supplies throughout the Australian market. We've released 20 per cent of Australia's strategic fuel reserves, about 760 million litres, predominantly of diesel. We're able to do that because we brought that strategic reserve back to Australia.”
“We know that they are feeling pain because of the increase in international energy prices due to the war, and we understand the difficulties that this is creating for families, for households and for businesses. But we've developed a plan in consultation with the Australian people and the states and territories to maximise the supply of fuel, to minimise the price pressure, to crack down on price manipulation, to eliminate energy bottlenecks, to protect regional communities and industries and to prepare a plan for all contingencies. The conflict in the Middle East has reduced supply and inflated international prices for oil, and no nation, including Australia, has been able to escape that reality. We know that this is hurting households' and businesses' budgets, so we're putting in place measures to reduce prices.”
“But thank God we have a responsible Labor government in charge, which had the foresight to bring Australia's strategic fuel reserves back here to Australia, onshore, where they belong. During times of international crisis, Australians want stable, responsible leadership and cooperation, and that is exactly what the Prime Minister and our government are delivering during this difficult period. As soon as the war broke out in the Middle East, we convened the National Security Committee of cabinet to develop a plan to secure our fuel supplies and to keep prices as low as possible. Since that day, we've listened to the experts and consulted with the states and territories, but, most importantly, we've listened to the Australian people.”
“Oh, the irony of the Leader of the Opposition moving a motion regarding leadership during a time of crisis! This is the man whose policy response to increasing our nation's fuel reserves was to store more of our fuel offshore, in another country, the United States. Imagine if the 'minister for offshore fuel' over there were the Minister for Climate Change and Energy now. With an international oil crisis due to the war in the Middle East, instead of being able to release 20 per cent of our fuel reserve, as our government was able to do over the last couple of weeks, if the Leader of the Opposition were the energy minister we'd be begging the United States to release and ship fuel to Australia, and the response from the United States could have been, 'Get your own oil.' That could have been the response that we'd got.”
“By nurturing cultural traditions and supporting intergenerational connection, CASS strengthens not only Australia's Chinese community, but the broader Australian story. It's also reflected in the organisation's longevity. I recently attended a CASS event to celebrate Lunar New Year. Zhong Qiu Jie is a festival that we also celebrate with them at Kensington. It's a wonderful opportunity to bring our community together. I want to thank Professor Stephen Li, the chairperson of CASS, and all the wonderful staff and volunteers of the organisation who have contributed to building CASS into the wonderful organisation that it is 45 years later. I thank CASS for this milestone anniversary. I commend them on their work to empower and support communities, particularly the Chinese, across our nation. Question agreed to.”
“Chinese Australians have helped shape our national story through their work in business, science, education, the arts, community and service to public life. For 45 years, CASS has delivered services that reach deep into that community. Their programs supports more than 8½ thousand families each week. These services span settlement support, health programs, child care, ageing and homecare assistance, disability services, vocational training and language classes. Each of these programs has helped Australians participate fully in social and economic life, but the contribution of CASS extends beyond service delivery. It fosters that wonderful sense of community that sustains people through every stage of their migration journey.”
“I'd also like to acknowledge and congratulate the Chinese Australian Services Society, commonly known as CASS, on its 45th anniversary. CASS is an organisation that has played a vital role in supporting migrants, particularly from China, strengthening communities and contributing to Australia's multicultural success story. It was founded to meet the needs of those who arrived in Australia seeking opportunity and a sense of belonging. For many who left their homelands behind, organisations like CASS provide not only practical assistance, but also the reassurance that they are not alone as they build new lives in this country. I want to also acknowledge the broader contribution of Australia's Chinese community, who have had a presence in and have made a contribution to Australia for more than 170 years.”
“The 2026 Australia-Cyprus Achievement Hall of Fame awardee was Professor Richard Green, recognising his outstanding contribution to classical and Cypriot archaeology and his pivotal role in advancing Australia-Cyprus scholarly relations. The Australia-Cyprus Achievement Award (Youth) was presented to Jacquelene Tsovolos, recognising her work in encouraging civic participation among young Cypriot Australians. The Cyprus Community of NSW forms a living bridge between Cyprus and Australia, and it stands as a reminder that Australia is enriched by every culture that now calls our wonderful country home. I congratulate all the award recipients and commend the community for its outstanding contribution to Australian society.”
“They brought with them the institutions that sustain community life—afternoon schools, theatre groups, dance troupes, sporting clubs, bakeries, churches and the wonderful Cypriot Club that was in St Peters. There were places of belonging, identity and continuity, and they helped shape the multicultural character of the suburbs that we know today. The Australia-Cyprus Achievement Awards reflected that legacy. Among the major honourees was Neophytos Stavrou, recognised for a lifetime of service to commerce, culture, faith and philanthropy. Then there's my good mate Con Theocharides and his family, who were honoured for their exceptional humanitarian leadership through their charity, A Touch of Kindness, that feeds the homeless and those displaced each week in Sydney. It's one of Australia's largest charitable support missions.”
“Last month I joined the Cyprus Community of NSW for the Australia-Cyprus Achievement Awards honouring achievement, service and shared heritage between Australia and Cyprus. It was a celebration of the significant contribution that the Cypriot community has made to our nation. Many of them arrived after the Second World War. They were young, they didn't speak English, they found our food boring and tasteless, they had little but the clothes on their back. But they worked hard, they maintained their faith through the Greek Orthodox Church and community, they had families and they made a life of it in Australia. And hasn't our nation, and indeed our community, benefited because of that. Many settled in Marrickville, Kingsgrove, Bankstown, Kingsford and, of course, Maroubra.”
“The 2024 reforms were a critical and long-overdue step in Australia's compliance with international standards and ensuring that we do not become an international 'back door' for illicit funds. The technical amendments will make compliance easier for Australian businesses who have obligations under these laws, while still delivering strong anti-money-laundering outcomes. The Australian government will always act to prevent the criminal abuse of our economy and the harm and suffering this causes to our entire community. For those who think crypto ATMs provide a new loophole to turn cash into crypto and evade law enforcement—know this—we will close the loopholes, we will track you down, you are in our sights. I commend the bill to the House. Debate adjourned.”
“This definition will also be updated to reflect developments in Australian sanctions laws on terrorism financing, including by allowing new sanctions offences to be prescribed in the future. These amendments will also ensure Australia unequivocally meets its commitments as a member of the Financial Action Task Force, the global anti-money-laundering and terrorism financing watchdog. Schedule 3 of the bill contains technical amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006that were identified through the implementation of the significant reforms enacted by this government through the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024.”
“To ensure that the new power is appropriately targeted, the AUSTRAC CEO must be satisfied of the significant harm of the high-risk mechanism before exercising the power and that a restriction or prohibition is necessary in the public interest. The new power is intended to support AUSTRAC's flexible, risk based response to emerging and evolving money laundering and terrorism financing risks, while still allowing reporting entities to use innovative technologies and business models. Schedule 2 of the bill will make technical amendments to the meaning of financing of terrorism in section 5 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to reference new offences introduced in the Criminal Code Act 1995 for financing a state sponsor of terrorism.”
“The illicit profits are reinvested in further serious crimes that cause untold harm to the Australian community and our region. The emergence of new technologies in recent years has presented great opportunities for the economy and the community. However, these same opportunities can be exploited by criminal actors. We've seen criminal groups, exploiting high-risk mechanisms, coerce everyday people to move and launder money from scams and illicit drug sales. For example, cryptocurrency ATMs are often exploited by criminals coercing individuals to exchange money for virtual assets. These high-risk mechanisms are used because they make it harder for our law enforcement and intelligence agencies, like AUSTRAC, to trace the movement of that money.”
“Schedule 1 of this bill will introduce a new framework in the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to empower the AUSTRAC CEO to restrict or prohibit businesses regulated under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing regime from using a high-risk product, service, delivery channel or thing, to protect the Australian community. This implements a commitment made by the Minister for Home Affairs at the National Press Club on 16 October 2025 to combat the significant harms being caused by organised crime and scams across the country. The Australian Institute of Criminology estimates that serious and organised crime cost Australia up to $82.3 billion in 2023-24, causing misery and financial hardship for victims.”
“When AUSTRAC looked at the top 90 most prolific users of these ATMs in 2024 it found that 85 per cent of these users were either scam victims or money mules who had been tricked or coerced into moving money. While not everyone who uses these ATMs is linked to illicit activity, the observations of our law enforcement agencies is that, unfortunately, a substantive amount of their use contributes to criminal gain. The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026 responds to crypto ATMs and the broader modern financial crime environment which facilitates serious crimes and harms both Australia's financial systems and the community.”
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Transnational, serious and organised crime actors continue to adapt and develop new ways to exploit Australian community members and target our economic systems to generate illicit profits and launder the proceeds of crime. Money laundering is not a victimless crime. Each year, billions of dollars of illicit funds are generated from criminal activity such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, child exploitation, tax evasion, and other illegal and corrupt practices. It's also used by authoritarian regimes to fuel corruption and undermine the rule of law across the world. AUSTRAC has observed that crypto ATMs are one of these new mechanisms, linked to everything from money laundering to scams and fraud to illicit substances to child exploitation.”
“The higher rate on balances above $10 million affects less than 0.1 per cent of Australians. Anyone would think that a reform that affects such a low proportion of Australians but has such a dramatic effect on advantaging and providing a rebalance for workers in this country would get the support of the opposition, but they'd be fooled. They'd be fooled.”
“If you've got $3 million or more in your superannuation, you are indeed a wealthy Australian. You are doing well, and the system has provided a massive tax concession for you over a long period of time. But that tax concession has been at the expense of those low-paid workers who are struggling to make ends meet. It's time to rebalance the system. It's time to make sure the system is fairer. These reforms will ensure that the wealthiest Australians finally start paying their fair share of tax through that income diversion into superannuation. Both thresholds will be indexed to maintain consistency over time. These changes affect a very, very small number of Australians—less than 0.5 per cent of the Australian population with superannuation accounts.”
“The second reform ensures that the most generous tax concessions in the system are directed where they're intended: towards helping people save for a dignified retirement, not providing a massive tax subsidy for the wealthiest 10 per cent of Australians with extremely large balances, who are diverting their income into superannuation to avoid paying their fair share of tax. From July this year, concessional tax treatment will continue for all Australians, but the level of concession will taper for those with very high balances. Earnings linked to balances below $3 million will continue to be taxed at up to 15 per cent, but, if you've got a balance of between $3 million and $10 million, the tax rate will increase to 30 per cent. Earnings associated with balances above $10 million will be taxed at 40 per cent.”
“These changes ensure that the tax system remains aligned with the broader tax framework and continues to deliver meaningful support, and the impact is substantial. Around 1.3 million Australians—most of them women—will benefit from this reform. The total number of people eligible for the LISTO will grow to 3.1 million. Workers earning between $28,000 and $45,000 will see an average increase of $410 in their low income superannuation tax offset. Depending on their career earnings, this could translate to around $15,000 more in retirement savings. That's real help. That's a substantial change. It's practical and targeted, and it makes the system fairer. It rebalances the system to ensure that we're favouring workers over the wealthy.”
“This bill represents our government listening to your struggles and acting to make the superannuation system fairer. We'll do it in two ways. The first set of reforms in this bill enhance the low income superannuation tax offset. For too long, the settings have not kept pace with changes in wages, tax thresholds or the superannuation guarantee. As a result, hundreds of thousands of low-income workers have been missing out on the level of support the system was designed to provide. This legislation corrects that. From 1 July 2027, the maximum LISTO payment will rise to $810. The eligibility threshold will move to $45,000. And both will automatically adjust in future, as tax thresholds and the superannuation guarantee rate evolve.”
“It's for the families who have both parents being forced to work these days, who have dauntingly sized mortgages, who are trying to get the best education for their kids, who are probably looking after elderly parents as well and who are feeling that they just can't get their heads above water. It's for the single parent who is living week to week, who is trying to do the best for their kid, who is maybe having to rely on rent assistance or family tax benefits and who is exhausted at the end of every week, with nothing left. It's for those that are nearing retirement but are being forced to continue to work beyond the normal retirement age because they simply don't have enough in their superannuation to retire on. This bill is for you.”
“That is what this bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026, is all about. We are acting to rebalance the superannuation system unashamedly in favour of workers. This bill is about ensuring that superannuation works for the people who need it most: the average Australian worker struggling to make ends meet. It's for the workers who keep our community functioning every day, who work hard and who struggle to pay the bills and the mortgage. It's for the tradie that's just started out—and is maybe running their own business or working for an employer—for the cost of tools, running a car and paying the rent.”
“But the lowest 20 per cent of income earners receive only about $800 million in tax breaks despite the fact that that population of Australians is much larger than the wealthiest 10 per cent. So the system is stacked against workers, and is it any wonder that people feel like, no matter how hard they work, they can't make ends meet and that they feel like the system is stacked against them? Because it has been for too long, and our government is going to do something about that. I want Australian workers to know that we hear them. We hear what you're suffering, and we know what you're going through. We know that the system is stacked against you. We know that it unfairly favours the wealthy at the expense of workers. That is why we are changing the system.”
“In my view, if I were to sum up what Australian workers were thinking at the moment, it would be that the income and taxation system is stacked against them. I often hear from workers that, no matter how hard they work, they feel that they just can't get ahead, and they're right. The income and taxation system in Australia is stacked against workers at the moment, and it heavily favours the wealthy. For too long, our taxation system has favoured wealthy Australians at the expense of low- to middle-income workers. You need look no further than the superannuation system to find evidence of this. At the moment, in Australia, the wealthiest 10 per cent of income earners receive $22 billion in tax breaks by transferring their income into superannuation rather than simply paying income tax on it like the rest of Australia.”
“Again, it's proof that the Albanese government is delivering on its economic commitments and ensuring that Australian workers continue to be provided with dignity and equality in the workforce, particularly in retirement.”
“Finally, the convention supports Australia's plan to make multinationals pay their fair share of tax and strengthens the integrity of our taxation system. Schedule 6 delivers on the government's commitment to provide tax relief for Australia's wine producers. The support for wine producers comes under the existing wine equalisation tax producer rebate scheme from 1 July 2026 by increasing the rebate cap of $350,000 to $400,000 per financial year. Schedule 6 will support approximately 3,000 wine producers. These changes back local producers, keeping money flowing through regional towns and supporting investment and jobs. These are commitments that Labor made in the lead-up to the last election.”
“Schedule 4 of the bill amends the International Tax Agreements Act to give force to a law for the convention between Australia and Portugal, which was signed on 30 November 2023. The convention is the first of its kind between Australia and Portugal, and will provide avenues to support closer bilateral linkages with Portugal, particularly in the areas of commercial trade investment and innovation. It will do so by reducing withholding tax on dividends, interest and royalties, which will reduce tax disincentives to investment and the cost of business for accessing foreign capital. The convention will also reduce compliance costs for taxpayers and improve certainty for individual businesses that have dealings in Australia and in Portugal by determining allocation of profits from cross-border dealings between the two countries.”
“We are proud of Australia's superannuation system, proud of the workers that it supports and proud of the government that is ensuring it continues to deliver for generations of workers to come. Schedule 3 of this bill provides targeted tax exemptions to help Australia host the men's and women's rugby world cups in 2027 and 2029. This ensures that we remain competitive and trusted to host major international sporting events. Similar exemptions were provided for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2020 ICC T20 world cup. This measure follows a well-established approach in supporting international sporting events in Australia and will, importantly, form part of our strategy around those sporting events in the lead-up to the pinnacle—the Olympics and Paralympic Games in Brisbane in 2032.”
“These reforms build on the government's broader work to strengthen superannuation: legislating the purpose of super; lifting the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent—again ensuring that we provide that dignity for workers in retirement as the cost-of-living increases; boosting the low-income superannuation tax offset; and paying super on paid parental leave. All measures ensure providing equality for women in the workforce and providing dignity for seniors in retirement. We've implemented major reforms to ensure funds deliver for their members, from the financial accountability regime to stronger reporting standards, to expanding the performance test from around 80 products to more than 800.”
“This amendment introduces a ban on advertising superannuation products to an employee specifically at the point that the employee is onboarding when they start a new job. This is a key moment for employees, and they should be able to engage with their super in a safe and informed way, free from inappropriate pressures or product promotion. Australians deserve protection from inappropriate advertising when they provide their superannuation details to an employer during onboarding. Limited exceptions ensure workers can still see their stapled fund, the employer's default fund or a regulated MySuper product, keeping the focus on transparency, not sales tactics.”
“Australians deserve to make an informed choice about their superannuation when starting a new job, so schedule 1 bill of this or one of this bill streamlines the choice of fund process so that workers can see and can consider their existing stapled fund. Stapling was introduced to ensure that employers pay superannuation contributions to an employee's existing superannuation fund if they don't make a choice. That helps reduce the duplication of accounts that eventually erode retirement savings through unnecessary fees and insurance premiums. Earlier access to stapled fund details means that employees can make that choice with confidence, and employers have the right information to support the government's payday super reforms. Schedule 2 introduces a targeted ban on superannuation advertising during onboarding.”
“But we need to make sure that our superannuation laws keep pace with changes in our economy and continue to provide that principle dignity for Australian workers in their retirement, and this bill introduces a number of reforms to superannuation and tax laws to achieve just that. The bill seeks to deliver on an election commitments to streamline systems and processes and to reduce compliance costs for taxpayers. We're ensuring that more Australians earn more, keep more of what they earn and retire with more as well, and that's another step in strengthening a system that delivers on its purpose of providing income for a dignified retirement.”
“Superannuation was introduced by Labor to provide workers with dignity in retirement. It was a way of saying 'thank you' to workers for their decades of contribution to the workforce, to the companies and the organisations that they work for, and it was an opportunity to provide them with a comfortable retirement, a holiday every now and then, enough to look after the grandkids and to ensure that they had dignity in their senior years. The system has grown into one of the largest pools of investment funds anywhere in the world, providing support for economic growth in our economy and ensuring that we have jobs for Australians into the future.”
“He's from Kingsford, and he received the Australian Fire Service Medal for his distinguished service. I'd like to highlight military service recipients Lieutenant Commander Jay Pettifer, Warrant Officer Lyndon Quirke and Warrant Officer Class One Kimberly Kiely. These awards happen because someone took the time to nominate them, and I encourage others. If you know someone in Kingsford Smith doing outstanding work, please nominate them. To our 2026 nominees: thank you for your service to our community and to our country and congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”
“He's recognised for significant service to sexual health medicine as a physician and epidemiologist. We send our deepest respects to his partner, Mr Mark Gussy, and his family. This award ensures Dr Medland's contribution to public health will never be forgotten. I also want to congratulate recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia. Phil Jenkinson from Maroubra has given extraordinary service, teaching young kids to sail at the Yarra Bay Sailing Club for decades and for his work through south Sydney junior rugby league with the Mustangs. From Botany, Tim Murphy OAM is honoured for his service to the construction industry and the wider community. I'd also like to highlight the meritorious award for Trent Brown. I've know Trent for many, many years.”
“His work shapes how we understand media and communications in a complex world. From Kensington, there's Professor Nicholas Manolios AM. Nicholas has dedicated his life to medicine—specifically, in the vital fields of immunology and rheumatic diseases. His service provides quality of life for countless Australians. From Coogee is Mr John Susman AM. John is honoured for significant service to the hospitality industry and to the seafood sector. Anyone who loves Australia knows that seafood is an important part of our community and a vital industry to our culture and economy, and John's been a champion of it for decades. We also have a poignant inclusion in this year's list. We honour the late Dr Nicholas Medland AM. Though sadly no longer with us, his legacy remains.”
“Each year, on Australia Day, we honour those who have given outstanding contributions to the Australian community. The Australia Day honours awards recognise those who have worked tirelessly to make our nation better—often quietly, and never for the recognition itself. As the member for Kingsford Smith, I'm proud to pay tribute to those from our community that were honoured in the 2026 list. They represent the very best of us, across fields as diverse as medicine, construction, sport and academia. I'd like to acknowledge those appointed as members of the Order of Australia for their significant service. From Randwick, there's Distinguished Professor James Macnamara AM. James is recognised for his significant service to tertiary education, communications research and public relations.”
“They carry the burden of knowing the threats we face so that the rest of us don't have to face those threats. The ASIO Amendment Bill (No. 2) will help support ASIO to continue that vitally important work.”
“It's now also mixed ideologies as part of these rapid forms of radicalisation. That's meant that the threats and the needs have evolved. The government's response needs to evolve as well. In this shifting landscape, ASIO provides the government with the eyes and ears needed to navigate these dangers. They provide the foresight that allows us to protect our sovereignty and, importantly, to protect the Australian people. Finally, I'd like to acknowledge the people behind the acronym. The officers of ASIO are everyday Australians—our neighbours, parents and friends—who have chosen a career of distinct service. They can't come home and tell their families about their job or the work they do. They work in high-pressure environments, often dealing with the darkest aspects of human nature, yet they do so with professionalism and restraint.”
“We need only see what, unfortunately, occurred on Australia Day in Perth, with a terrorist incident there, and of course the shocking terrorist incident at Bondi on 14 December to know that we are living in a heightened threat environment in Australia and in many respects throughout the world. The historic threats that we have always considered with respect to violent extremism and terrorism remain. But as the Director-General of ASIO, Mike Burgess, has made clear, increasingly we're also finding people who are younger becoming radicalised faster and radicalised online. This is a deeply disturbing emerging threat. We're increasingly finding people for whom it's no longer a set ideology, albeit what would be viewed as an extremist ideology purporting to be based on faith or what would be described as right-wing racist ideology.”
“This ASIO bill further amends the eligibility and termination provisions for prescribed authorities to ensure the independence and impartiality of persons appointed to that role. The changes also introduce additional reporting requirements to ensure that the Attorney-General is made aware of relevant information regarding conduct under a compulsory questioning warrant. Finally, the bill introduces an additional safeguard for questioning where a person has been charged with a related offence and that charge is still to be resolved or for whom such a charge is imminent by requiring that postcharge questioning occur only before a prescribed authority who is a retired judge. These amendments are supporting ASIO during a time at which Australia's security environment is becoming more dynamic and rapidly evolving.”
“In September 2023 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security elected to review the existing compulsory questioning framework ahead of its sunset date but did not complete its review prior to the prorogation of the parliament earlier that year. The measure proposed in the bill had been developed with close regard to the submissions made by interested parties in that PJCIS inquiry. The reforms also expand the scope of adult questioning warrants to include sabotage, promotion of communal violence, attacks on Australia's defence system and serious threats to Australia's territorial or border integrity, in addition to espionage and politically motivated violence, including terrorism and acts of foreign interference, to reflect the dynamic, diverse and degraded security environment ASIO have described.”
“For over 20 years, ASIO has used these powers to obtain high-value intelligence in circumstances where ASIO's other powers were not appropriate. Since the introduction of this compulsory-questioning framework in 2003, it's been the subject of multiple parliamentary and independent reviews, causing the parliament to extend the sunset date of these provisions on five occasions. This bill will make the framework permanent by repealing the sunset provision, in recognition that these powers have yielded high-value intelligence and been subject to multiple reviews, and would be consistent with ASIO's other powers.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. It's good timing for me, thank you. Australia's security environment is becoming more dynamic, diverse and, unfortunately, degraded. We know that Australia is facing multifaceted, merging, intersecting and cascading threats, and the Albanese government is committed to ensuring that our Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is properly equipped to respond to this complex web of threats. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 2) will amend ASIO's compulsory-questioning powers contained in division 3 of part III of the ASIO Act to ensure the framework reflects the security environment and strengthens existing safeguards. ASIO's compulsory-questioning powers are a valuable intelligence collection tool to protect Australia and Australians from threats to their security.”