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

Senator CASH (Western Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (18:34): Just in relation to the amendment moved by the Australian Greens on sheet 3790, this amendment is aimed at cutting short the extension of the identity and disrupt powers. Instead of allowing the account takeover data disruption and network activity warrant regimes to continue until 4 September 2029, it actually, as has been articulated, brings forward the sunset date to 1 July 2027.

It does that across the relevant provisions in schedule 1, including the associated emergency authorisations and transitional provisions. It was actually the coalition that introduced these powers, because serious and organised criminals were increasingly exploiting encrypted platforms, online accounts and sophisticated digital technologies. In 2026, when you look at where the world now is, I don't think one can actually say that those threats have gone away.

In fact, one might say that those threats have actually got worse. It is the opinion of the coalition that bringing the sunset forward to July 2027 would create unnecessary uncertainty around capabilities that law enforcement agencies continue to rely on to disrupt serious offending. The coalition, of course, support proper scrutiny and safeguards, but we do not support arbitrarily shortening the life of effective national security and law enforcement powers.

These warrant regimes were designed to give agencies the tools to intervene against serious criminal networks, and parliament should not force them back to the brink of expiry before, in particular, the broader electronic surveillance reform process is completed.