Bill
Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Bill 2018
passed, as at 2018-05-09. Prime Minister portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Prime Minister
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2017-12-07
- second reading — 2017-12-07
- second reading — 2018-05-08
- second reading — 2018-05-08
- committee — 2018-05-08
- third reading — 2018-05-08
- introduced — 2018-05-09
- second reading — 2018-05-09
- second reading — 2018-05-09
- second reading — 2018-05-09
- committee — 2018-05-09
- third reading — 2018-05-09
- passed — 2018-05-09
- royal assent — 2018-05-09
Divisions
- The majority voted to support the [main idea](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1718a/18bd067#_Toc504660817) of [the bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6016). In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill [for a second time](https://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html), meaning that they can now discuss the bill in more detail. ### What is the bill's main idea? The [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1718a/18bd067) explains that: > *On 18 July 2017, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would establish a Home Affairs portfolio that will bring together Australia’s immigration, border protection, law enforcement and domestic security agencies in a single portfolio. Australian governments had previously considered but rejected the establishment of something similar to the US Department of Homeland Security or the UK Home Office on several occasions since the early 2000s. The new portfolio will be ‘modelled loosely’ on the UK’s arrangements, comprising a central department responsible for policy and strategic planning and several agencies that will retain their statutory independence.* — 2018-05-09, Senate: affirmative, ayes 48, noes 9
- Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 - in Committee - Parliamentary oversight — 2018-05-09, Senate: negative, ayes 15, noes 33
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2017-12-07.
This bill updates several laws to reflect the creation of the Home Affairs portfolio and the transfer of certain responsibilities to the Attorney-General.
It allows intelligence agency officials to give AUSTRAC information to the Attorney-General for his or her functions under security-related Acts.
The bill also changes the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act to give the Prime Minister and the relevant minister shared or clarified powers over referrals, appointments, and reporting.
- Amends the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act to let ASIO, defence intelligence, and ONA officials disclose AUSTRAC information to the Attorney-General.
- Amends the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act to allow both the Prime Minister and the minister responsible for that Act to refer matters to the Monitor, with only the Prime Minister able to direct the order of references.
- Amends the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act to clarify the Prime Minister's role in appointing the Inspector-General and to update ministerial references.
Intelligence agency officials, the Attorney-General, the Prime Minister, the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, and the ministers responsible for the amended Acts.
Sources
em
em supp
em revised
billhome
frl act