Division Description Changes — Bills — Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018; Second Reading — 6th Dec 2018

Change	Division
senate vote 2018-12-06#30 Edited by mackay staff on 2018-12-14 10:36:23	Title Bills — Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018; Second Reading Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 - Second Reading - Agree with bill's main idea Description ~~<p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p>~~ ~~<p>I ask senators to remain in the chamber. I will be ringing the bells for one minute for subsequent divisions. The question is that the bill be read a second time.</p>~~ The majority voted to agree with the main idea of the [bill](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6195), which means the can now discuss it in more detail. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill [for a second time](https://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html). ### What is the bill's main idea? According to the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1819a/19bd049): > The Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 will amend a number of Acts—primarily the Telecommunications Act 1997, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 (SD Act)—to facilitate access to certain communications and data for the purposes of disrupting and investigating criminal activity and threats to national security, including organised crime and terrorism. > The Government is responding to the impediment that the increasing prevalence of encrypted data and communications represents to available investigative and interception capabilities.

~~<p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p>~~
~~<p>I ask senators to remain in the chamber. I will be ringing the bells for one minute for subsequent divisions. The question is that the bill be read a second time.</p>~~
The majority voted to agree with the main idea of the [bill](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6195), which means the can now discuss it in more detail. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill [for a second time](https://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html).
### What is the bill's main idea?
According to the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1819a/19bd049):
> *The Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 will amend a number of Acts—primarily the Telecommunications Act 1997, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 (SD Act)—to facilitate access to certain communications and data for the purposes of disrupting and investigating criminal activity and threats to national security, including organised crime and terrorism.*
> *The Government is responding to the impediment that the increasing prevalence of encrypted data and communications represents to available investigative and interception capabilities.*