MARK DREYFUS MP

Labor welcomes the release today of the Australian Law Reform Commission's (ALRC) report into Equality, Capacity and Disability in Commonwealth Laws.

Attorney-General Senator Brandis has admitted that the Abbott Government granted an extension of time and funding to the Trade Union Royal Commission despite not being asked to, under questioning last night in Senate Estimates.

Senator Brandis confirmed in Senate Estimates today that he invoked an imaginary rule to insist on his staff sitting in on meetings between the Opposition and the President of the Independent Human Rights Commission.

Today marks 96 years since the end of the First World War, a bloody and brutal war that cost over 16 million lives, including the lives of over 59,000 Australian servicemen.

Australian families stand to suffer even more from the Abbott Government's cuts to the Federal Circuit Court which will impact on thousands of family law cases.

Today marks the 39^th anniversary of the passing of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.

Labor has requested that the Government defer debate on the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill until 2015 to give adequate time for a thorough consultation process to occur.

The Federal Opposition today called on the Government to publicly release an exposure draft of its legislation to require the mandatory retention of metadata for up to two years.

Labor welcomes the advisory report on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014, released today by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Labor welcomes the appointment of Professor Gerard Vaughan AM as the new Director of the National Gallery of Australia.