Mr HAASE (2:04 PM) —My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Would the Prime Minister advise the House of the government's most recent initiative to fight crime and make our communities safer? How will this initiative benefit my electorate of Kalgoorlie? What has been the response to the government's announcement?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —I thank the member for Kalgoorlie for his question. I am pleased to inform the House that today I launched CrimTrac, which is a national DNA database and fingerprint system. I would have thought, despite the inevitable political rivalry in this place, that the launch of a nationally coordinated initiative to fight crime, to catch criminals and to protect the innocent would draw unanimous support from across the chamber. I am pleased to say that, in making this announcement, the government has delivered in full on a commitment it made in the 1998 election to provide $50 million for a national policing information service. This service will contain over two million fingerprints, and the new fingerprint system is equal to or better than the best systems of its type in the world. I am pleased to inform the House that sites for the new fingerprint system are situated in about 40 locations. Many of these are in regional areas such as Kalgoorlie, Maitland, Ballarat, Bendigo, Wangaratta and Launceston, to ensure that police in regional areas have access to the same technology as those in the city.

The new DNA database will form the most powerful high-tech weapon against crime yet introduced in Australia. Today we proclaim the necessary Commonwealth legislation covering our role in using and protecting the system. From today the technology is in place nationally for DNA profiles to be entered on the system. I congratulate those jurisdictions—notably New South Wales, the ACT and Tasmania—which have adopted the Commonwealth model legislation in forensic procedures. I urge the remaining jurisdictions to complete the review of their own legislation as a matter of priority.

I thank the police commissioners of the various states and territories for their important involvement in these initiatives. The New South Wales commissioner, Mr Ryan, said that today is an important moment in the history of Australian policing, which will enhance crime prevention and community safety. In a similar vein, the newly appointed Victorian Commissioner of Police, Christine Nixon, said that CrimTrac is an excellent example of how the states and territories and the Commonwealth are working together to harness technology for the benefit of the entire Australian community.

CrimTrac joins a number of other initiatives of the Commonwealth, including our sponsorship early in our term of office of national uniform gun laws and the commitment of record amounts at a national level to fight drugs, which if maintained in the future—if recent indications are reliable—will make significant inroads into the availability of heroin and other illicit substances in the Australian community. CrimTrac is great news in the fight against crime. I thank the ministers and I thank the police services of Australia for the contribution that they are making to delivering a safer community. I take this opportunity in the national parliament, on behalf of the government and the Australian community, to record our ongoing thanks to all the police services of this country, who do such a remarkably good job in protecting us against crime and in delivering a safe and secure Australian community.

Mr SPEAKER —The minister does not have the call.

Mr Pyne —Mr Speaker, on a point of order: some time ago you determined that it would be allowable to bring laptops and other computer things into the chamber in order to allow people to work on them during question time.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Sturt will resume his seat. The member for Sturt will be heard in silence or I will deal with those who interject.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Lyons is warned!

Mr Pyne —Some months ago you determined that it was allowable for members to bring laptops into the House to work on during question time. But there are provisions in the standing orders that stop people from displaying propaganda, newspaper headlines, et cetera in the House, and some of the more juvenile members of the ALP are now taking advantage of your earlier rulings.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Sturt will advance his point of order or I will ask him to resume his seat.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Member for Braddon, Chief Opposition Whip, member for Grayndler! I remind the member for Swan, the member for Griffith, the member for Capricornia, the member for Paterson and the member for Braddon of the standing orders, of House of Representatives Practice and of the regulations laid out by Speakers Jenkins and Child, which means that what those members are currently doing ought not to continue. They will remove those signs or I will ban laptop computers from the chamber.

Honourable members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —The House will come to order.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Braddon is warned.

Mr Horne —Mr Speaker, I do not wish to question your ruling at all, but I am aware that this is being broadcast by the ABC, who will be displaying this logo.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Paterson will refer to House of Representatives Practice.