Mrs Crosio asked the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, upon notice, on 13 May 1997:

(1) Is he able to say how many extreme right wing militia and terrorist groups are operating within Australia.

(2) Is the exposure and prosecution of right wing militia and terrorist groups who are found to have committed prosecutable offences an objective of the Government.

(3) Are there possible links between extreme right wing militia and terrorist groups and registered and unregistered political parties holding similar extremist views, including the (a) Australia First Party, (b) Australian Reform Party and (c) Pauline Hanson One Nation Party; if so, is the Government taking action to prevent extreme right wing militia and terrorist groups from having a voice in federal Parliament; if so, what.

Mr Williams —The answer to the honourable member's question is follows:

(1) It is not the practice of this government, and I understand that it was not the practice of previous governments, to comment on matters relating to national security. This is clearly a matter relating to national security.

(2) The exposure of right (or left) wing militia and terrorist groups whose members have committed prosecutable offences is not a specific objective of the Government. The prosecution of members of such groups (as of other persons) who have committed prosecutable offences is an objective of the Government.

(3) It is not the practice of this government, and I understand that it was not the practice of previous governments, to comment on matters relating to national security. Possible links between extreme right (and left) wing militia and terrorist groups and political parties holding extremist views are clearly matters of national security. The Government is not, and clearly should not be, taking action to prevent extreme right (and left) wing militia and terrorist groups from having a voice in federal Parliament. In fact, the Government would prefer that extremist views were expressed in debate rather than in violence.