Support swells for Dutton’s cyber law encryption push

SUPPORT is gathering behind Peter Dutton’s demand for a parliamentary committee to cut short its public hearings about proposed new cyber laws.

The Home Affairs Minister has written to the committee’s chair, Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, stressing the need to speed up its report into encryption access.

Mr Dutton has warned the potential for terrorist attacks over the Christmas holiday period if authorities do not have access to encrypted messaging platforms.

“The situation has become more urgent in light of the recent fatal terrorist attack in Melbourne and the subsequent disruption of alleged planning for a mass casualty attack,” Mr Dutton wrote to the committee, in a letter published by News Corp Australia.

“I am gravely concerned that our agencies cannot rule out the possibility that others may also have been inspired by events in Melbourne to plan and execute attacks.

“For these reasons I ask that the committee accelerate its consideration of this vital piece of legislation to enable its passage by the parliament before it rises for the Christmas break.”

Attorney-General Christian Porter has questioned why the committee is taking so long.

“It seems to me that it can be done far quicker than it is being at present,” he said.