Data Retention

Many people have contacted me regarding data retention and I appreciate all of your calls and emails. This is controversial legislation – and I can understand why some people are very concerned about it.

I have raised your concerns within the federal Labor Party over the past weeks, specifically that journalists and whistleblowers deserve special protection under this legislation. In my view if law enforcement agencies want to get access to a journalist’s telecommunications data to get their sources, they should have to get a warrant from a court. The privacy of their sources is integral to freedom of the press. It’s why journalist shield laws exist.  I am glad the Prime Minister has finally backed down and agreed to amend this bill to require law enforcement agencies to get a warrant.

Right now telecommunications companies keep a lot of data about us. Some data is held by companies for a couple of weeks, others hold it for years, with few checks and balances. Telecommunications companies are under no restriction or obligation to store data securely currently and many are storing it wherever it is cheapest. This legislation is about introducing consistency and balance.

I don’t like the whole package but Labor is committed to being an opposition that can work constructively, especially when it comes to matters of national security. Conservative politicians have a history of using national security as a cover to reduce individual freedoms and only a Labor Government will ensure that democracy is not eroded in the process of keeping our nation safe.