House of Representatives

Second Reading Speech

(Mayo - Minister for Foreign Affairs)

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

An important element of the Australian Passports (Transitionals and Consequentials) Bill will be the final stage of the introduction of the Foreign Passports (Law Enforcement and Security) Act. The Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2004, introduced last week, seeks to amend the existing Passports Act to include offences and surrender provisions for foreign passports to parallel the offences and refusal and cancellation provisions in the Australian Passports Bill.

This consequentials bill repeals all provisions relating to Australian passports from the Passports Act 1938 and renames it the Foreign Passports (Law Enforcement and Security) Act.

On a practical note, I should make clear that passports issued under the old act remain valid.

Finally, I would like to say a word about consultation. Eight million Australians hold passports and it is important that the system reflects their needs. Officials in my department have engaged in extensive consultation with travel, banking and technology industries; with the Privacy Commission and the Family Court; with state governments; and with privacy, human rights and consumer advocates. Key details of the bill directly reflect their input.

I thank them for their contribution to the development of this legislation, which will strengthen the capacity and integrity of the passports system.

I present the explanatory memorandum to this bill.

Debate (on motion by Mr Fitzgibbon) adjourned.