Australia drops plan to make Asio's post-9/11 questioning powers permanent, but expands covered offences
The Australian Labor government has abandoned plans to make Asio's post-9/11 compulsory questioning powers permanent. Instead, they will expand the offences covered under these powers to include promotion of communal violence and attacks on Australia's defence system. The laws, introduced after the September 11, 2001 attacks, allow intelligence operatives to issue questioning warrants requiring individuals as young as 14 to provide information or items relevant to serious investigations. Labor argues the changes are justified by the "dynamic, diverse and degraded" security environment.
Key quotes
Labor has quietly backed down on moves to make spy agency Asio's powers for compulsory questioning permanent
The laws were introduced in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US and give intelligence operatives powers to issue a questioning warrant requiring a person as young as 14 to give information or produce items
Labor argued changes to the laws are justified by the 'dynamic, diverse and degraded'
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