Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026

Mr GEE (Calare) (17:56): I rise to speak on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 and to speak in support of the member for Mayo and these very important amendments that she brings to the House, because not only is the member for Mayo an outstanding parliamentarian; the member for Mayo is also a law student. She is a very capable law student who has found an open gate, an open door, a void, in the law.

You can see why the member for Mayo has a distinction average in her legal studies, because she's identified this open gate in the law that terrorists are able to walk through. I think most Australians would think that, if you are found guilty of a terrorist offence in a court of law in this country, there needs to be a conviction recorded. It's a very simple proposition.

We are talking about some of the most serious crimes—crimes against our citizens; crimes against our country. Most Australians would think: 'If you're found guilty of terrorism, then you should have the book thrown at you.' And I agree with them. You shouldn't be able to walk out of court without a conviction being recorded.

This is about keeping Australians safe and this is about keeping our country safe. If you are found guilty of these extraordinarily serious offences, then you don't just get to walk away. If you're found guilty of a terrorist offence, then you need to wear that; you need to own it.

You need to be called a terrorist and identified as a terrorist, because, as the member for Mayo points out, you don't just get to slip away into the wider, law-abiding society without people knowing that you have been found guilty of a terror offence. So I commend the member for Mayo for bringing these very important amendments, and I would urge all members to support them.

I think most right-thinking members of this House could get behind these amendments. I would urge all members of the opposition, the crossbench but also the government to get behind these amendments. Most right-thinking Australians would support them.

All law abiding Australians would support them—the very simple proposition that, if you are found guilty, then you get the conviction recorded; you don't get to slip quietly into the night once your day in court is finished. I commend these amendments to the House and I urge all members to support.