Australia urges courts to keep out of Habib torture case

Australian courts should stay out of a dispute between former Guantanamo Bay inmate Mamdouh Habib and the Commonwealth because passing judgment on his alleged foreign torturers could damage Australia’s relations with other states, Government lawyers argued today. Habib is suing the Australian Government in the Federal Court for damages over his alleged torture as a [...]

Australia plans overhaul of telecommunications interception rules

The Australian government is planning a radical overhaul of telecommunications interception rules, which has some concerned it may be used to force internet service providers (ISP) to inspect customers’ online activities. The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2009 — Network Protection contains legislation designed to extend interception powers from certain government agencies to any [...]

Civil Liberties Australia criticizes proposed terrorism law changes

Australian rights group Civil Liberties Australia (CLA) sharply criticized the government’s proposed reforms to Australia’s national security and anti-terrorism legislation. Last week, Australian Attorney General Robert McClelland released a 452-page discussion paper detailing the proposed changes, including “providing police with new emergency powers to enter and search premises without a warrant where it is suspected, [...]

Discussion in Australia on reforming intelligence agencies

According to defence expert and close government adviser Ross Babbage the strict legal and operational constraints that apply to the Defence Signals Directorate, Australia’s main collector of signals intelligence, should be removed. The Australian reports that Babbage argues that DSD’s charter should be amended to allow it to assist ASIO and the AFP in an [...]

Two banks breach Australian laws on laundering and terror finance

Australia’s money-laundering watchdog, Austrac, has found the British financial institution Barclays Bank and the Chinese banking corporation Mega International failed over a period of years to prevent their services from potentially being used by criminals to launder the proceeds of crime or finance terrorist operations. Banks operating within Australia are required by law to report [...]

Australian Greens Move to Scrap ‘Extreme’ Anti-Terrorism Laws

The Australian Greens party is pushing to repeal an anti-terrorism law introduced by former Prime Minister John Howard’s government, saying it was rushed through Parliament and undermines human rights.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said aspects of the law are “extreme,” vaguely worded and undemocratic and he  introduced legislation on the 23d of June to scrap them. [...]

Public prosecution criticizes Australian anti-terrorism laws

Nicholas Cowdery, the head of the New South Wales public prosecution office, has said that Australia’s counter-terrorism laws are complex, expensive to apply, and not effective. His State office is the country’s largest prosecution service. Cowdery referred to the lack of convictions under the terrorism legislation in calling for amending the laws. Blaming the Commonwealth [...]

Terrorism produced ‘a shift in emphasis’ in Australian Federal Police

08 MAY 2009 CANBERRA (Pacnews) —- Australias top prosecutor has added weight to claims the war on terror distracted the Australian Federal Police (AFP) from traditional crime fighting, saying the agency’s priorities shifted after the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001.
With debate over the legacy of departing AFP chief Mick Keelty sure [...]

Australia plans deradicalisation programme for convicted terrorists

Australia is developing a plan to turn convicted terrorists with the help of moderate Muslim leaders and engage in a hearts-and-minds campaign to counter radical Islam in ethnic communities.
Federal and state authorities have established a taskforce at the request of Attorney-General Robert McClelland, and are consulting Islamic countries in which an estimated 100,000 detainees have [...]

Human Rights committee concerned about Anti-Terrorism Act in Australia

In its Concluding Observations on Australia (CCPR/C/AUS/CO/5/CRP/1), the Human Rights Committee shared earlier concerns of the UN Special Rapporteur on the protection of human rights while countering terrorism on provisions under the Anti-Terrorism Act in Australia.
11.    While acknowledging the State party’s intention to review the Terrorist Act in the near future, the Committee is [...]