COMMITTEES

Senator CICCONE (Victoria) (17:35): I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. I move: That the Senate take note of the report. The Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 amends the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979, the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 and the Crimes Act 1914 to support the proper administration of government, law enforcement, national security and criminal justice.

The bill consists of five schedules. Schedule 1 would permit network activity warrant information to be used, communicated and recorded to meet disclosure obligations or to be admitted in evidence, where necessary, to ensure the defendant is afforded a fair trial or to respond to any such information admitted by the defence. Schedule 2 would transfer the statutory function of the Communications Access Coordinator from the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department to the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs.

Schedule 3 would permit limited access to stored communications to allow agencies to undertake development and testing activities. Schedule 4 would address a technical issue with the operation of international production orders that prevents orders from being given to US based prescribed communications providers. And schedule 5 would clarify the threshold for authorising controlled operations and the circumstances in which a participant is protected from criminal responsibility and indemnified against civil liability.

These amendments are highly technical, but at their core they are about creating a nation where every Australian can feel safe. I must emphasise that this bill is intended not to create new laws or powers but to clarify existing obligations and to ensure the workability of particular provisions within the telecommunications law that enable the crucial work of our national security agencies.

Importantly, these amendments provide a platform for our agencies to adapt to the rapid evolution of technology enabled criminal activity and to keep Australians safe now and into the future. The committee received five submissions to its review, most of which expressed support for the bill in whole or in part. The committee recommends that the bill pass without amendment.

I commend the report to the Senate. Question agreed to.