Encryption laws: Peter Dutton says all of Labor changes can’t pass

Peter Dutton has warned that Bill Shorten’s attempt to “water down” anti-terror encryption laws will not stand.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says the government won’t accept all of Labor’s amendments on encryption laws. Picture: Getty

The government will not accept all of Labor’s amendments to anti-terror encryption laws in the New Year, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says.

“No we won’t. There was obviously a committee process and we’ll entertain amendments which are consistent with the joint recommendations from that committee,” he said.

“But we’re not going behind that. Labor can try and water down all they like … we’ve been very clear.”

Bill Shorten supported laws giving security services greater access to encrypted messaging apps to tackle terrorists and paedophiles, despite backlash from Labor MPs, privacy advocates, and the tech sector, on the last sitting day of parliament last week.

The Opposition Leader said it was a “flawed” bill but he would push amendments to encryption laws when parliament returns in February to alleviate those concerns.

Mr Dutton said the encryption laws were vital to security services due to the terrorist threat level.

“I hope Labor can get over their attempts to block it,” he said.

Government senate leader Mathias Cormann told the upper house last Thursday that the government would support all Labor amendments consistent with the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s report.

Labor legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said today the opposition would hold the government to their pledge to pass the amendments.

“Senator Cormann pledged, on record in the Senate, that the government will support in principle all amendments that are consistent with the Intelligence Committee recommendations on the Assistance and Access legislation,” Mr Dreyfus said.

“Mr Dutton said the same today. This is a pledge Labor will hold the government to.”

“It’s disappointing Mr Dutton has returned to his ridiculous personal attacks and he should focus on putting national security first.”

Mr Shorten told reporters last Friday that the bill was “rushed” but he wanted to pass encryption laws to ensure there was not a national security vacuum over the summer period.

“It is not a perfect solution and to all of those who are concerned about the economic impact of this legislation, we hear you,” he said last week in Canberra.

“And we’ve said that we want to review it.”

Additional reporting: Primrose Riordan