Luke Gosling
Solomon · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Yesterday marked one year since the Albanese government's landmark $3.9 billion National Access to Justice Partnership 2025-30, the NAJP, commenced. It represented our government's largest investment in legal assistance.”
“I acknowledge and thank these local providers and the private sector practitioners supporting them for their professionalism, their expertise and their unwavering commitment.”
“The bill also modernises and clarifies the Defence health system framework by establishing a dedicated legislative basis for Defence health services, including clinical governance, health monitoring, quality assurance and improvement activities, enabling lawful, proportionate use of health data to improve health care, suicide prevention a…”
“Critically, the bill supports a more integrated approach across Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and other portfolio agencies, including the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency that was launched this morning, and the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission that began last year.”
“Purposefully, we need members of this place and senators to take their responsibility to lower anxiety and to provide proper information. A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 13:03 to 13:12 We are making it so the DVA can operate better, with increased efficiency, to deliver a level of serv…”
“Our government is working at pace to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Acknowledging the national tragedy of veteran suicides, this government called for the establishment of the royal commission while we were in opposition, and we have supported the work of the royal commission since…”
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“It has also enabled on-lending arrangements to help regional and community-scale projects and removed earlier restrictions that limited the NAIF's ability to carry appropriate risk when it was necessary to unlock projects of national significance. With this flexibility, the NAIF has accelerated its commitments and broadened its portfolio across critical minerals, renewable energy, transport, logistics, water infrastructure, education and social infrastructure.”
“Importantly, tens of thousands of jobs have also been supported in the north. The core rationale for the NAIF and for economic and social development in the north remains unchanged: there is a genuine financing gap in our north, and the NAIF fills that gap. Distance, cyclones, flooding—like what we've got in the Territory at the moment—sparse populations and high logistics costs mean that commercially bankable projects often stall without catalytic public financing. The NAIF was designed to fill that gap. Reforms since 2021 have equipped it with more flexible tools to do that job even more effectively. A new investment mandate strengthened the facility's ability to support high-impact projects, expanding eligibility and clarifying how to assess public benefit.”
“The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility is a $7 billion Commonwealth financier that provides concessional finance to infrastructure projects in the NT—and I'm proud to represent Territorians—in northern Queensland and in north-west WA, as well as in the Indian Ocean territories, finely represented by my mate and colleague the member for Lingiari in this place. These are projects that may often struggle to attract commercial finance because of their remoteness, their high level of risk—at times—the smaller populations and the long project timeframes. Over its life, the NAIF has already committed more than $4 billion—as has been said, it had a slow start—hitting the ground in 32 project investments. The forecast public benefits now exceed $33 billion, so it's been a great return on investment from the NAIF so far.”
“Northern Australia is half of our continent by landmass and home to some of our most dynamic industries, our fastest growing communities and the First Nations peoples whose stewardship of country spans millennia. Of course, a strong north means a strong Australia, and today I'm proud to speak in support of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment Bill 2026, which will extend the NAIF, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, for a further 10 years. This is a practical, nation-building step that will unlock investment, create jobs, deepen First Nations participation and help secure critical supply chains as we transition to net zero, all while returning significant public benefit well beyond the Commonwealth's outlay—as significant as the Commonwealth's outlay is.”
“I want to thank the Territory veterans from the Council of Australian Veterans NT that kicked off this project and put in countless hours of volunteer work. I just want to say to the members of CAV that your volunteer work is appreciated. Thank you very much. That $3 million for the Scott Palmer centre is now going to be with the Salvos to provide those services to our veterans. We say to them: thank you.”
“This government, the Albanese Labor government, is moving forward with the Scott Palmer Services Centre to support our Territory veterans and their families in the Darwin area who are experiencing or are at the risk of experiencing homelessness with transitional housing and assistance to find permanent housing solutions. The Salvation Army Northern Territory, the Salvos, have been approved to manage the grant and establish the centre. They are looking at a suitable complex of between three and six self-contained units that will be appropriate for housing veterans and located so that essential wraparound support can be provided to the tenants of the Scott Palmer centre, who, of course, will be our veterans.”
“From 1 July this year, two price caps will now operate in the Northern Territory, one for Greater Darwin, at $750,000, and the other for the remainder of the Northern Territory, which remains at $600,000, in line with mean property prices. The five per cent deposit scheme has already helped more than 1,800 Territorians move into their first home since we came into government. As well, Territorians are cutting their energy bills by installing cheaper home batteries. Darwin residents are installing batteries at double the rate of Melbourne residents. Nearly 700 residents have taken up the government's support to take 30 per cent off the cost of a home battery, saving them around $2,300 per annum.”
“We have expanded mental health services, with the Darwin headspace centre upgraded to a headspace Plus and a youth specialist care centre in Darwin for young people with very complex needs. We are continuing to work with the Northern Territory government to strengthen maternity services, and I call on the Northern Territory government to stipulate that the new not-for-profit operator of Darwin's private hospital includes maternity services in their licence. Like everywhere in this country, housing and homeownership is a challenge in my home town of Darwin, as it also is in Palmerston, so we were proud to announce support for more first home buyers from Darwin, Palmerston and a bit past there into the rural area to get into home ownership by increasing the property price gap for the five per cent home deposit scheme.”
“We also launched services like 1800MEDICARE, which is helping keep people out of emergency departments, and we have kept the PBS medicines at $25, saving Territorians real dollars. That's brilliant cost-of-living support. Add to this, record hospital funding for the Northern Territory, with $3.5 billion over the years from 2026-27 also being delivered. We're also building the long-term health workforce, with the NT's own medical school at Charles Darwin, which opened last month, housed in a brand-new building called Garrwa, or the Centre for Better Health Futures. I thank Aunty Bilawara Lee for explaining that 'garrwa' means 'green tree frog' in the Larrakia language and that the site of the school is on the green tree frog Dreaming.”
“We had some fantastic major announcements in the Solomon electorate last month: the location of the Medicare urgent care clinic, which is to be on Osgood Drive in Eaton, just next door to the ice-skating rink, and the successful tenderer for the 120- to 150-bed aged-care facility to serve Darwin, Palmerston and the Top End. The Albanese Labor government has also delivered a once-in-a-generation change to bulk-billing, which means that more Territorians can now see a doctor for free, with no out-of-pocket expenses. There are now 23 Medicare bulk-billing GP practices across Darwin and Palmerston. Over 70 per cent of all local GP practices are now registered as Medicare bulk-billing practices.”
“But registration is only a part of the story. At the most critical moment, families are still asked to confirm a loved one's wishes, so it's only families that can really make organ donation possible. I've had that conversation with my family and I encourage everyone to do the same. If we can improve registration, it will make a huge difference for the more than 2,000 Aussies that are waiting for a life-saving organ donation.”
“Australians, Territorians, I want to talk about organ donation. I want to acknowledge people like Megan and all the Donate Life Northern Territory staff and vollies, like my friend Carly Dalton, the widow of Robbie Dalton—a champion bloke who got an extra 10 years due to a donated kidney. I also want to give a shout-out to my brother-in-law Guy Vanderkelen, who is organ donation coordinator down at Royal Hobart Hospital: thanks for what you do, mate. Organ donation is a conversation that we must have with our loved ones now. Otherwise, unfortunately, these conversations first occur at what is the worst possible time for a family. In the middle of overwhelming grief, families are asked if they want to donate the organs of loved ones to save the lives of others. Most of us say that we support organ donation and many, like me, even register.”
“My question is to the minister for aged care. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for aged-care workers and the people that they care for? Why is this necessary and how does it differ from other approaches?”
“Palmerston is growing fast these days, and upgrades like this really have mattered, which was why I was really pleased to secure the funding and get it done. I want to give a particular shout out to Evelyn Small, a student from MacKillop Catholic College in Palmerston. Her artwork adorns the walls of this facility. It's fantastic. It's native flora and fauna of Darwin—the beautiful bush stone-curlews. Well done to Evelyn Small and her wonderful family.”
“We had some major announcements in Solomon, my electorate, in Darwin and Palmerston last month. The location of the Darwin Medicare urgent care clinic was announced, as well as the successful tenderer for the aged-care facility with up to 150 beds to serve senior Territorians in the greater Darwin area. I was also pleased to open a more community focused piece of infrastructure last month in Palmerston. We've upgraded public amenities at Hobart Park in Johnston, delivering a $450,000 investment from the Australian government's Investing in Our Communities Program. I really want to thank Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell and the fantastic team at the City of Palmerston. Well done. These sorts of practical improvements to this social infrastructure make it easier for Palmerston families to spend time at the park.”
“Encountering a Japanese fleet during the escort, and being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Yarra's commander, Lieutenant Commander Robert Rankin, laid down a smokescreen and commanded the convoy to scatter. Despite fighting valiantly and bravely, the Yarra and the three ships in the convoy were all sunk. Of the Yarra's complement of 150 souls, only 13 would survive. In 2013, HMAS Yarra and her ship's company were awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry retroactively. This was a fitting and poetic recognition of her bravery. Well done to HMAS Yarra .”
“I want to wish the Royal Australian Navy a happy 125th birthday and mark that today, 4 March, marks the 84th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Yarra in 1942 while escorting a convoy from South-East Asia through to Fremantle in WA during the darkest days of the Second World War. This was within a month of the bombing of Darwin, and Broome had just been bombed the day prior, on 3 March. Australia's fate hung in the balance. It would be six months before the tide started to turn at Milne Bay and on the Kokoda Track. HMAS Yarra's badge features a kookaburra, and its motto is 'hunt and strike'. But, on that fateful day in March 1942, its mission was to protect and defend the convoy.”
“When there are so many other things that that we are happy to talk about, those opposite put up what we in the Northern Territory would call a gammon, a pretend piece of private member's legislation that was full of holes. It was either deliberately dishonest or incompetent. I'm not sure which of those—probably both. If our security agencies provide advice that additional people in the cohort meet the threshold, then temporary exclusion orders should be put in place, and of course we will do that because we follow their advice and we trust in them. And that's what those opposite should do, rather than this stupid political theatre that they're engaged in today. (Time expired)”
“A number of male foreign fighters, as the assistant minister pointed out, came back to Australia when the Liberal Party were last in government. The coalition built the legal framework that we are now operating under, and, at the time, they acknowledged that it goes as far as it can constitutionally. Maybe that's why we haven't seen anything of substance from them in their proposals. As Minister Burke has said, one individual in this cohort has been issued a temporary exclusion order, which was made on advice from security agencies. But, during his contribution, the shadow minister pretended that a temporary exclusion order isn't happening—that the government isn't putting a temporary exclusion order in place. That's one of the many reasons why I say that this is a dishonest and an unethical debate that they've put into the parliament.”
“As the Minister for Home Affairs has continuously, repeatedly said, our agencies have been monitoring these individuals for some time, and we have confidence, as the shadow minister should have confidence, as those opposite should have confidence, in our security agencies. Our law enforcement and national security agencies are following the exact same approach that they have for over a decade. That same approach was used by the former government. It was the approach that those opposite followed through their previous governments. So people in this cohort need to know that, if they have committed a crime and they return to Australia, they'll be met with the full force of the law. To those listening at home: have no fear; that will be the case. The full force of the law will be applied to anyone returning from overseas.”
“It doesn't do justice to the faith in our security organisations that all members of this place should have, including the shadow minister, who, as Julian Hill, the member for Bruce, said, has been a member of the PJCIS. National security is not political theatre. We follow the advice of our security agencies and we follow the law. That's how we keep Australians safe. If any of these individuals find their own way to return to our shores, our agencies are prepared and will be able to act in the interests of community safety. It's important that members of the public who are listening have that assurance.”
“The first thing I want to say is that this is a really dishonest MPI. We heard first from the shadow minister and then from 'old mate', the member for Forrest—we'll be getting that one next time. The Albanese government's position on this issue is really clear and really longstanding, and it's disappointing that, as part of this political theatre, those opposite are pretending that no action has been taken by us—by the government—when the security agencies have provided clear advice. I'll flesh that out a bit for those listening to this debate. But, at the outset, I think it's important that we acknowledge that this is a point of debate that those opposite have put forward in the MPI that is quite dishonest and therefore unethical.”
“The program helps students discover the trade that best suits their skills and interests. We all know there are fantastic opportunities in construction. We need more young kids going into these key apprenticeship programs. It's about opportunities for our children, but it's also about building more supply—more houses for Australians. I don't know why the Country Liberal Party, those opposite, don't want to support our apprentices in the construction trades.”
“The Leader of the Opposition's hand picked shadow minister for skills and training, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, has let slip the opposition's plan to axe training opportunities for apprentices. Senator Price believes that the government's modest $10,000 incentive payments to housing-apprentice tradies increases inflation and has vowed to scrap the Key Apprenticeship Program. Why does a Country Liberal Party representative not want Territory kids, like those at Nightcliff High School, to get a hand with the cost of living whilst they're on an apprentice wage? Australia can't build more homes without more tradies to build them. Last month I celebrated the partnership of Intract, McMahon Services, the Housing Industry Association and SEDA to deliver the construction and trade program to receive a Certificate II in Construction Pathways.”
“I seek leave to speak again. Leave granted. I have some short supplementary comments now that others have arrived in this chamber. I just want to back up the member for Gellibrand and acknowledge his deep work in this space. We are working to make sure that Bahasa Indonesia continues to be taught in Australian schools—in primary schools, following on to secondary schools and into university—so that we can really develop our expertise and our economic relationship with Indonesia. I also want to thank him for acknowledging the centuries old relationship between the First Peoples of north-east Arnhem Land, in particular, and the north of Australia with people from Makassar. Those Bahasa words are still used with reverence today.”
“I move: That this House: (1) affirms the significance of the recent signing of the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, also known as the Jakarta Treaty 2026; (2) notes this treaty reflects: (a) the close friendship, partnership and deep trust between Australia and Indonesia and our leaders under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; and (b) a major extension of the cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, for the benefit of our shared security and that of the region; and (3) acknowledges Indonesia's strong economic growth represents an enormous opportunity for Australian businesses and investors, which the Government is working to realise including through Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 .”
“As the Northern Territory's first Chief Minister and former Attorney-General, Paul Everingham, said over the weekend, 'It matters what messages are sent to the community.' I too believe this case raises serious issues that should be taken up by the NTDPP, the Director of Public Prosecutions, in seeking special leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia. Territorians expect accountability, and where confidence is shaken every lawful avenue of appeal should be pursued.”
“Today I rise regarding the sentencing of a family member of the Northern Territory's Attorney-General for a fatal hit-and-run. An Aboriginal Australian, a Territorian, lost their life. Jake Danby left the scene, and, on appeal, the Northern Territory Supreme Court imposed two years home detention––not one day in jail. During earlier proceedings, the court heard Jake had described the man he killed as an 'oxygen thief' and said it was 'pretty funny watching them roll around on the road after going over my bonnet', and he texted: 'I ain't getting jail time. I'm a Danby. We don't go to jail.' Not one day in prison. Not a hint of remorse. Not even a statement of regret.”
“Today, the War Memorial encompasses all ADF service from the First and Second World Wars to Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and training exercises, and it ensures that contemporary veterans are recognised with the same dignity that has been afforded rightly to earlier generations. The major redevelopment of the War Memorial has been underway for some time. Some of it, such as the HMAS Brisbane exhibition, is open now, but full completion will be made in 2028, and it will ensure that there is sufficient space to sufficiently and properly tell the stories of contemporary service. The upgrade includes the protection and preservation of our national collection, improving accessibility and enhancing the education and research facilities.”
“Scotty was a dedicated and highly skilled soldier, a proud Territorian and a great mate to many of his comrades. Eight other soldiers from 2 Commando Regiment also lost their lives during the Afghanistan campaign. Their names are also on the wall. Each name on that wall represents not just an individual but a family, a unit and a community forever changed. In Darwin, in tribute to Scott, we're delivering the Scott Palmer centre. It will be a place to support veterans and their families in the Greater Darwin area, a reminder that remembrance is not abstract; it is lived daily in communities across Australia.”
“Through these functions, it fulfils its enduring mission of leading remembrance and deepening understanding of Australia's wartime and operational experience. On the Roll of Honour, there are now 103,132 names, each one belonging to somebody who has made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, including Private Robert 'Jock' Buchan, who died when they were engaged in a firefight in the Nui May Tao mountains alongside my father but also Kenny Higgins, the president of Mackay RSL—and I give a shout-out to Kenny and Dad—when they were engaged in that firefight in South Vietnam in 1969. Another number of that 103,000 Australians belongs to Private Scott Palmer of the 2nd Commando Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on operations on 21 June 2010.”
“The War Memorial was built to honour their service and sacrifice and to ensure that we never forgot the terrible cost of war. The War Memorial was driven by the vision of Charles Bean, Australia's official war correspondent in the Great War. He believed that, if Australians were asked to serve Australia in harm's way, then the nation owed them not only commemoration but careful documentation. He envisaged not simply a monument but a living institution, a place of remembrance, reflection and rigorous historical research. The Australian War Memorial is unique in combining three essential functions: a national shrine, a world-class museum and an extensive archive preserving official records and deeply personal stories.”
“At the outset, I want to acknowledge we've got two former ministers for veterans affairs in the chamber. We also have a Timor and Afghan veteran, the member for Herbert; my good mate the member for Spence, who also has worn our country's uniform; and a big supporter of our veterans, the member for Makin. This morning I visited one of our nation's most sacred sites, the Australian War Memorial. When opening the new main entrance in February last year, the Prime Minister referred to it as 'the most important building in the nation'. The Australian War Memorial was founded in the aftermath of the First World War, and the names of 61,721 Australians that lost their lives during the Great War are on the memorial's Roll of Honour. It was a young nation, fewer than five million people, so that loss was indeed profound.”
“Thank you to Billie-Jo Hudson, Mick Laidler, Luis Espinoza, Francis Gill from the SEDA College and the fantastic kids at SEDA College.”
“I attended an event in Darwin on Thursday with local radio stations Hot100 and Mix FM, and I received that message loud and clear from the absolute legends there, young people working for those radio stations who gave me great feedback and just kept on serving up banger after banger at that event. Thank you. A key part of Labor's plan to build houses is growing our construction workforce. Last month I joined the celebration of the partnership between Intract, McMahon, the HIA and SEDA College to deliver the Construction and Trade Program. This program provides year 11 students with the opportunity to complete their secondary education while gaining practical skills, hands-on training, mentoring and industry exposure, all nationally recognised with the qualification of a Certificate II in Construction Pathways.”
“This change brings the NT in line with other states and ensures that our Greater Darwin property price cap aligns with median house prices in Darwin, which have been on the rise. It brings more properties in Darwin into eligibility for the scheme and will give first home buyers in Darwin more choice. Hundreds more Australians will get into homeownership years sooner because of this change, saving tens of thousands of dollars on lenders mortgage insurance. The five per cent deposit scheme has already helped more than 1,800 Territorians move into their first home since we moved into government in 2022. Industry has welcomed this announcement, including Luis Espinoza of HIA, Housing Industry Association, Northern Territory, who I visited on site in Holtze at the big housing development there last week. Young people have welcomed this too.”
“Last week, my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Clare O'Neil, the member for Hotham, joined me in Darwin to announce support for more first home buyers from Darwin to get into homeownership by increasing the property price cap for the five per cent home deposit scheme. Currently, the property price cap for the Northern Territory is $600,000 across the board for the whole of the territory. However, we announced that on 1 July this year two price caps will operate in the Northern Territory—one for Greater Darwin, which will be $750,000, and one for the remainder of the Northern Territory, which will remain at $600,000, taking into account median house prices across our great territory.”
“My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government's record investment in Medicare making it easier for Territorians to see a doctor for free? Why is it so important after a decade of cuts and neglect?”
“Timor-Leste has come a very, very long way, conducting a series of very successful and peaceful parliamentary and presidential elections since the restoration of their independence. On behalf of Timor veterans, I also want to thank President Jose Ramos-Horta for broadening the eligibility scope for the Timor Leste Solidarity Medal for ADF and AFP personnel. I know it's very much appreciated by Timor veterans, and we look forward to confirming the details for this Timor-Leste award. Viva Timor-Leste.”
“On Sunday, I attended Mass at St Mary's Star of the Sea Cathedral. Our children were baptised there and had their first Holy Communion there. Our daughter Sally's godfather is an old Army mate of mine, Richard Halloway. I meant to give him a shout-out yesterday. It was his birthday. Happy birthday, Dicko! He's a Timor veteran. I am also a Timor veteran, along with two of my brothers. The member for Herbert is also a Timor veteran, as are tens of thousands of other Australians who served in Timor in the ADF or the AFP. As I said yesterday in this place, I acknowledge the Timor-Leste President and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who I caught up with on a recent visit with the Prime Minister.”
“I believe that this bill does and, importantly, it allows our security agencies to do what they need to do to protect Australia and our interests.”
“Noncompliance or giving false information is an offence with serious penalties. Thirdly, there's ongoing oversight. The IGIS plays a key role. Questioning under warrant is overseen by an independent prescribed authority to ensure it's appropriate conduct. The bill mandates the review. As I've mentioned, in its submission, the Department of Home Affairs even suggests legislating periodic independent reviews every five years to ensure the regime remains fit for purpose. In closing, we should support this bill as it delivers a finely-struck balance between what is necessary to achieve security and what is sufficient to protect the individual rights of Australians. It is necessary in these times to get that balance right.”
“It is critical when giving such serious powers that they are neither unaccountable nor lawless, and this bill exists not in a vacuum but within a framework of checks. So let me highlight briefly in the time remaining some of the key protections. In the issuing process, the powers will still remain subject to a thorough warranting regime. A questioning warrant must be requested by the DG of security and approved by the AG. The prescribed authority who oversees questioning is typically a former judge or someone with judicial type status—that is, a competent person. The bill tightens criteria for who can serve in that role, adding disqualification rules. There are obligations during questioning. Persons under questioning have rights—access to a lawyer, protections against self-incrimination and other procedural safeguards.”
“Rather than allow the powers to lapse, the bill embeds stronger oversight through a prescribed authority, reporting requirements and a future PJCIS review. Our government argues that these mechanisms sufficiently guard against misuse. Fifth, they are a last resort tool. Our government frames these powers as a measure of last resort, a capability you don't want to need but you want to have. These powers are to be used rarely and only in extreme circumstances. These were the terms used by then Attorney-General the Honourable Daryl Williams QC when the powers were first introduced in 2023, and the reasoning still holds today. There are several checks and safeguards against the use and potential abuse of these powers. These powers are not unfettered.”
“The cost of this is of course very difficult to quantify; although, meaningfully, he makes this point: 'A more vulnerable, fractured and intolerant society means a less predictable and increasingly volatile security environment.' The costs of this, both financially and to our citizens' sense of freedom and safety, are incalculable. Thirdly, there's been judicious use so far. These powers have been rarely used. According to public record, in 22 years, only about 20 questioning warrants have been sought and issued. This restraint, they argue, demonstrates that ASIO uses them sparingly, only when less-invasive means will not suffice. Fourthly, there's better accountability, not less accountability, now.”
“Secondly, they are causing real damage. The Australian Institute of Criminology, in partnership with ASIO, has calculated that the cost of espionage to Australia in the financial year 2023-24 to be about $12.5 billion—that's with a B. Now, to put that in perspective, that's just under a quarter of the annual Defence budget. Australia's defence systems are facing a greater threat from espionage too, and with this government's elevated level of investment should come elevated levels of protection for the sensitive capabilities and technologies that those investments will deliver. It's essential. Mike Burgess spoke in terms of the threat actors previously described tearing away at or eroding our social fabric and social cohesion.”
“ASIO raised the terrorism threat level to 'probable' in 2024 and, according to ASIO'S submission 'Australia is confronted by multifaceted merging, intersecting, concurrent and cascading threats' being driven by the convergence of major geopolitical, economic, social and security challenges.' In his address to the Lowy Institute on 5 November, Director-General of Security and head of ASIO, Mike Burgess AM, grouped threat actors into three cohorts, all threatening our social cohesion in different ways: the aggrieved—individuals that tear at our social cohesion and our social fabric; the opportunistic—organised groups that take advantage of whatever they can for the purposes of their personal or small group ideology; finally and most concerningly, the cunning—persistent and highly capable nation states that will play the long game to exploit faultlines and fractures in countries such as us that they consider hostile to their ambitions.”
“The Law Council of Australia, in its public commentary, explicitly cautions that these powers should remain subject to periodic parliamentary review and argue that removing the sunset clause removes a key democratic safeguard. Now, these are not fringe concerns. They reflect the principled worry about overreach, especially when coercive powers are not tightly constrained. For an insight into the reasons the powers should be permanent, let us consider ASIO's submission to the review. From the Australian government's perspective and ASIO's perspective, the argument is straightforward. We have an evolving threat environment. I don't think anyone can credibly say that we don't. Threats to Australia are ever more complex. The Department of Home Affairs notes that sabotage, border threats and communal violence now present real risks.”
“The Department of Home Affairs, in its submission, argues strongly that these powers remain necessary in light of changing security threats. They say that over the past 20 years the regime has struck a sound balance between impact on individual rights and the need for intelligence, with which we protect Australian citizens and our interests. They also endorse expanding the questioning powers, notably for sabotage, defence system threats and communal violence. On the other hand, libertarian and legal rights groups—for example, Liberty Victoria and state civil liberties councils—have raised their concerns. They warn that making these powers permanent risks eroding fundamental rights—for example, the right to silence, the presumption of innocence, and fair trial protections.”
“Importantly, it also mandates a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security review three years after commencement. The Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, wrote to PJCIS on 25 August last year to refer the bill for inquiry and report, and the review showed diverging views, with some placing more importance on security and others emphasising individual liberties and freedoms. That is the tension that I referred to earlier in my contribution. During the PJCIS review, a wide range of submissions were made, and they reveal a real debate between security advocates and civil libertarian voices. It's important that we listen respectfully to all the voices and to all members of parliament during this debate, no matter what their view.”