Chris Althaus, CEO, AMTA: "This discussion on data retention has been going on for some time. To the department's credit and the agency's credit it has taken a range of twists and turns and we have always had a full and frank discussion about it. However, it has tended to be a discussion on the agency's terms."

Althaus: "Just blindly following Europe, where there have been substantial critiques of this approach, is not something we support."

Andrew Pam, board member: "...similar data retention requirements in Europe are now being challenged on constitutional grounds and a number of countries because they are really very difficult to effectively address. We just do not see any adequate justification in the proposal as it is put before us now. It is not that it may not be possible to justify, but no evidence of any serious justification has as yet been put forward."

Pam: "The longer the system exists, if it exists for a period of decades, then over that time it is a near certainty that there will be some abuses of the system. And then you have to weigh up the consequences of those abuses against the potential good that has come out of having the system in place. It is sometimes a difficult judgement to make, but history has shown that there are known negative consequences of introducing these systems."