Metadata retention: Government agrees to changes to bill to force telcos to keep data
The Federal Government has agreed to greater oversight and privacy protections within its scheme to force telcos to keep metadata for two years.
A joint parliamentary committee of Labor and Coalition MPs provided a bipartisan report on Friday recommending more clarity about who would have access to the information.
The report included 39 recommendations, which committee chairman Liberal MP Dan Tehan said improved oversight and safeguards.
"These recommendations, which are all bipartisan, will ensure that those mechanisms there operate efficiently and effectively and the public can be confident the regime is being used appropriately," he said.
The Government has agreed to all of the provisions, including changing the bill in an attempt to provide more protection for journalists' sources.
Attorney-General George Brandis has told Parliament the most important recommendation is that the bill should be passed.
"Less information is being retained than was hitherto the case and for shorter periods," he said.
"This is having a critical impact on the capacity of law enforcement and national security agencies, and the legislation addresses that gap."
Senator Brandis on Friday said the legislation was "urgent", and that metadata was "used in virtually all serious criminal investigations, including murder, sexual assault, child exploitation and kidnapping investigations".
"It is also central to almost every organised crime, counter-espionage, cyber-security and counter-terrorism investigation," he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten earlier said Labor had not finalised its position but suggested it would back the laws with the changes.
"I certainly would hope and I have reason to believe that the Government will accept Labor's propositions and will amend their initial legislation so we can get the balance right," Mr Shorten said.
The Government wants the bill passed urgently and will bring on debate in the Lower House this week.
