Senator ELLISON (Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs and Minister Assisting the Attorney-General)(5.39 p.m.) —Senator Bolkus asked a question about the number of warrants that were issued last year. The figures we have available are for 1995-96 and they show that there were 747 warrants issued. They were contained in the Telecommunications (Interception) Act 1979 report that is provided for under the act, which is a very good mechanism indeed.

The judges have said that they are continuing to issue warrants on an interim basis only until alternative arrangements are made. That is only a temporary arrangement. This issue was not a problem when the 747 warrants were issued. So to rely on those numbers is by no means safe, because what we have now is only a temporary situation.