Email Responses Regarding National Security Inquiry

Below is the email chain regarding the National Security Inquiry, in response to our previous email requesting an extension to September 30.


Dear Sir / Madam

Thank you for your email to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security regarding the inquiry into potential reforms of national security legislation. The Committee appreciates your interest in the inquiry and would welcome a submission from you. I regret to advise, however, that your request for an extension to 30 September 2012 to lodge a submission cannot be accommodated. Should you wish to make a contribution, the Committee encourages you to lodge a submission by the due date so that the members can have the benefit of your views on the proposed reforms, along with those of other interested parties. If you are unable to lodge a submission by 6 August, the Committee may still consider submissions presented shortly after this date.

Yours sincerely

Jerome Brown

Jerome Brown | Secretary
Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security


Hi Jerome,

Thanks for the response, albeit it a form letter, as one could gather from my name I am in fact no madam.

Could you expand upon the reasons that an extension may not be accommodated?

Thank you.


Regards,

Brendan Molloy
Secretary
Pirate Party Australia


Dear Mr Molloy

I regret the form letter response — the Secretariat has received a number of emails written in identical terms requesting a 30 September extension. The Committee hopes to report by the end of the calendar year and, in order to achieve this, will need to press ahead with analysing submissions, conducting any hearings, preparing its report and so on. The Committee would naturally prefer to allow submitters more time, but unfortunately this isn’t possible on this occasion. It is also preferable that all submitters, or at least as many as possible, have their submissions lodged at the same time so that all views on specific issues can properly be taken account of as they are examined. Again, if 6 August is impossible for you, please let the Secretariat know closer to the date as the Committee may consider submissions presented shortly after this date.

Kind regards

Jerome

Jerome Brown | Secretary
Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security


Hi Jerome,

What is the justification for rushing to complete what is a very expansive and controversial inquiry by the end of the year?

Considering this report will likely end in a recommendation to modify existing legislation significantly beyond the current provisions, in ways that will affect the day to day lives of every single citizen, I think it is cavalier to expect that a reasoned, responsible and considered analysis could be completed in such a short time frame.

Something worth considering is that more time is currently being spent on a copyright review than this entire national security review, while the impact of this review will have much larger consequences than the worst possible outcome of a copyright review.

If the committee truly cares about the public input on matters that will certainly affect them, now would be the time to do the responsible thing and extend the deadline for your report, and give more time for a reasoned response from all Australians.


Regards,

Brendan Molloy
Secretary
Pirate Party Australia

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