National security will dominate the return of parliament as Prime Minister Tony Abbott delivers a speech outlining how Australia is responding to terrorism at home and abroad.
Armed federal police were patrolling Parliament House on Monday as MPs and senators returned to Canberra for a two-week sitting.
Abbott will deliver a speech in the House of Representatives at 2pm (AEST) outlining how the government plans to tackle the rising threat of Islamic State extremists, including military action in Iraq and tougher domestic counter-terrorism laws.
The speech is aimed at reassuring the public the government is doing all it can to keep the nation safe.
But despite the threat, the government pulled from Monday’s Senate program a bill giving the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation stronger powers to deal with terrorists and their supporters.
The Attorney-General’s office said it was a scheduling matter and the bill would be debated on Tuesday.
Attorney-General George Brandis will introduce a second tranche of anti-terrorism laws on Wednesday, targeting Australians who fight with or support terrorist groups overseas.
Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Senate President Stephen Parry on Sunday night ordered of lockdown of the ministerial wing of the parliamentary precinct.
They’ve also issued a ban on unaccompanied passes.
Brandis said police and intelligence agencies would be given “all the power they need in all circumstances” to deal with the threat of terrorism.
He acknowledged existing laws introduced under the Howard government were strong, but all governments needed to reassess them to ensure there are no gaps.
The legislation won’t necessarily be backed by Labor.
“Until we see the detail, it’s not appropriate that we be asked to sign off in any way because these are serious measures and some quite large changes,” shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said.
However Labor supports the principle of intelligence agencies having appropriate powers to deal with real threats.
Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm said it was still unclear whether the laws would allow ASIO to torture suspects and the government needed to put this beyond doubt.
MPs entering the building on Monday did not have any concerns about the stepped-up security.
“It’s one of the safest buildings we have in Australia,” Labor backbencher Lisa Chesters said.
The prime minister will only attend parliament for two days this week, before he heads to New York for talks at the United Nations on tackling Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria.
RAAF Super Hornets and special forces are gathering in the United Arab Emirates ahead of their deployment to Iraq.
