Telecommunications Amendment (Get a Warrant) Bill 2013

Telecommunications Amendment (Get a Warrant) Bill 2013

20 August 2013

© Commonwealth of Australia 2013

View the report as a single document - (PDF 14KB)


20 August 2013

Senator the Hon John Hogg
President of the Senate

INQUIRY INTO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AMENDMENT (GET A WARRANT) BILL 2013

Background

On 20 June 2013, the Senate referred the Telecommunications Amendment (Get a Warrant) Bill 2013 (Bill) to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (committee) for inquiry and report by 31 October 2013.

The Bill sought to amend the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to require standard warrant authorisation procedures for law enforcement and intelligence agencies that wish to access telecommunications.

Conduct of the inquiry

The committee invited submissions to the inquiry by 31 July 2013. Details of the inquiry, the Bill and associated documents were placed on the committee's website. The committee also wrote to 67 organisations and individuals.

The committee received 18 submissions for this inquiry.

On 5 August 2013, the Governor-General prorogued the 43rd Parliament and dissolved the House of Representatives. Accordingly, the committee has resolved not to continue its inquiry into the provisions of the Bill. This decision is consistent with the approach to inquiries during elections adopted by other Senate committees. If the Bill is reintroduced in the new parliament, the Senate can again refer it to the committee for inquiry.

Yours sincerely

 

Senator Trish Crossin
Chair

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3560
Fax: +61 2 6277 5794
Email: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au