The Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020, recently passed the Parliament.

As Labor's Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Keneally spoke about this Bill in the Parliament. I invite you to read the speech  to learn more about how Labor worked to improve the original Bill the Morrison-Joyce Government proposed.

Labor agrees that the powers in this Bill are extraordinary. Indeed, all members of the bipartisan Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security agreed the powers are extraordinary.

However, Labor does believe the powers have been justified to combat serious cyber-enabled crime – including human trafficking, drug crime, child sexual abuse and terrorism.

Technology is moving fast, and criminals are using technology to commit absolutely vile crimes.

Importantly, because of Labor's work through the bipartisan Intelligence Committee, this legislation is now more robust and includes better oversight.

In particular, amendments were included to strengthen the issuing criteria for warrants regarding these powers, requiring consideration of privacy, public interest, privileged and journalistic information, and financial impacts. And the Parliament and the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor will have strengthened oversight of the use of these powers.

Labor's goal in supporting the legislation is so that the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission can stay one step ahead of the vile criminals who are committing the most serious cyber-enabled crimes like child sexual abuse, human trafficking and terrorism.