Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026

Senator GREEN (Queensland—Assistant Minister for Tourism, Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs and Assistant Minister for Northern Australia) (13:14): We dealt with this a little bit earlier, but if I can, I will put it in the most succinct way possible. The government's position on that review was contained in a government response which was tabled in the parliament.

Senator Shoebridge asked me some questions about recommendation 1, and I can confirm that the government response to recommendation 1 is clear that we agree to extend the sunsetting date, which is currently 4 September 2026, in the first instance to allow recommendations 6 and 8 to be further considered as part of comprehensive reforms to the electronic surveillance framework.

This will ensure that the recommendations relating to how warrants are issued can be considered in the context of the framework as a whole. This will ensure that the issuing arrangements and safeguards for the powers introduced by the SLA(ID) Act align with the arrangements for other electronic surveillance warrants. The government response continues throughout to make clear reference in subsequent recommendations that further work contemplated in recommendation 6 and 8 be undertaken as part of that reform.

I'm not going to pre-empt what that reform is. It's extensive, complex and significant. We're going through that process at the moment and it will be, I'm sure, a bill that is scrutinised very heavily by our colleagues at the end of the chamber when it is introduced.

To be clear, the bill implements parts of recommendation 1, not the whole recommendation. That includes that the ACIC not retain the ability to use data disruption warrants, which is also part of the provisions of this legislation.