The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security accepts that there is a pressing need to strengthen and modernise current espionage and foreign interference laws.

The committee understands that prosecution for criminal offences is not the only means available to authorities to deal with espionage and foreign interference activity. It is, however, important to have criminal laws that are sufficiently robust to deter the full range of activity that foreign actors may seek to employ.

The committee supports the intent of the Bill to achieve these goals and, subject to the other recommendations in this report, the committee supports its passage through the Parliament.