Anti-Terrorism Reform Project A consolidation of the Law Council of Australia’s advocacy in relation to Australia’s anti-terrorism measures October 2013 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 5 1.1.1 History of Law Council Advocacy on Anti-Terror Laws .......................................... 5 1.1.2 Moves towards reform .......................................................................................... 8 1.1.2.1 Inquiries into the Haneef Case ......................................................................10 1.1.2.2 Discussion Paper on Proposed Amendments to National Security Legislation and the National Security Legislation Amendment Act 2010 ...................11 1.1.2.3 Independent National Security Legislation Monitor ........................................13 1.1.2.4 The Government’s Counter-Terrorism White Paper ......................................16 1.1.2.5 Australia’s Human Rights Framework ...........................................................18 1.1.2.6 COAG Review of Counter-Terrorism legislation ............................................19 1.1.2.7 Australia’s National Security Strategy ...........................................................21 2. Background and Context ..........................................................................................21 2.1 What measures were introduced? ..........................................................................21 2.2 Why were the new laws introduced? ......................................................................22 2.3 Were the new laws necessary? ..............................................................................24 2.3.1 Were the new laws required to meet Australia’s international obligations? .......24 2.3.2 Were the new laws necessary to fill a gap in protection? .................................24 2.4 How have the laws been used so far? ....................................................................26 2.5 Need for continued review ......................................................................................28 3. Terrorism Offences and the Meaning of ‘Terrorist Act’ ...........................................30 3.1 What measures were introduced and why? ............................................................30 3.2 Meaning of ‘terrorist act’ .........................................................................................32 3.2.1 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................33 3.2.2. Proposed reforms to the definition of ‘terrorist act’ ..........................................37 3.2.3 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................39 3.3 Terrorist Offences ...................................................................................................40 3.3.1 What measures were introduced? ....................................................................40 3.3.2 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................40 3.3.3 Proposal to introduce a new hoax offence .......................................................44 3.3.4 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................46 3.4 Financing Terrorism ...............................................................................................46 3.4.1 What measures were introduced and why?......................................................46 3.4.2 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................48 3.4.3 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................49 3.5 Terrorism Offences and Bail ...................................................................................49 3.5.1 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................50 3.5.2 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................53 3.6 Sedition Offences ...................................................................................................53 2 3.6.1 What measures were introduced and why?......................................................53 3.6.2 The Urging Violence Offences .........................................................................55 3.6.3 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................56 3.6.4 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................58 4. Terrorist Organisations ............................................................................................59 4.1 What measures were introduced and why? ............................................................59 4.2 Proscribing Terrorist Organisations ........................................................................62 4.2.1 Proscription by Regulation ...............................................................................62 4.2.2 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................64 4.2.3 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................74 4.3 Terrorist Organisation Offences ..............................................................................74 4.3.1 What measures were introduced? ....................................................................74 4.3.2 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................75 4.4.3 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................83 5. Investigation Powers of Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies .................83 5.1 What measures were introduced and why? ............................................................83 5.1.1 Measures introduced in 2002 and 2003 ...........................................................84 5.1.2 Measures introduced in 2004 ...........................................................................85 5.1.3 Measures introduced in 2005 ...........................................................................85 5.2 Law Council’s Concerns .........................................................................................86 5.3 Police Search and Seizure Powers.........................................................................89 5.3.1 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................91 5.3.2 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................92 5.4 Dead time provisions in Part IC Crimes Act ............................................................93 5.4.1 What provisions were introduced? ...................................................................93 5.4.2 Why were the dead time provisions introduced? ..............................................94 5.4.3 Law Council Concerns .....................................................................................95 5.4.4 Law Council Recommendations .......................................................................97 5.5 Control orders and Preventative Detention Orders .................................................97 5.5.1 Control Orders .................................................................................................98 5.5.2 Preventative Detention Orders .........................................................................99 5.5.3. When have control orders and preventive detention orders been used? ....... 100 5.5.4 Law Council Concerns ...................................................................................100 5.5.5 Law Council Recommendations .....................................................................104 5.6 Questioning and Detention powers of ASIO .........................................................105 5.6.1 What measures were introduced and why?....................................................105 5.6.2 Questioning and Detention Warrants .............................................................106 5.6.3 Law Council Concerns ...................................................................................109 5.6.4 Law Council Recommendations .....................................................................113 3 6. Procedural and Classification Reforms ................................................................114 6.1 What measures were introduced? ........................................................................114 6.2 National Security Information and Court Proceedings...........................................114 6.2.1 What measures were introduced and why?....................................................114 6.2.2 Law Council Concerns ...................................................................................117 6.2.3 Law Council Recommendations .....................................................................122 6.3 Classification of Terrorist Material.........................................................................124 6.3.1 What changes were introduced and why? ......................................................124 6.3.2 Law Council Concerns ...................................................................................125 6.3.3 Law Council Recommendations .....................................................................127