HATE preachers who incite terrorism face jail and ASIO agents will retain powers to kill suspects in self-defence under new anti-terror laws.
Attorney-General George Brandis said hate preachers were being put on notice and those “who preach terror will face the consequences”.
“Those who encourage others to commit terrorist outrages can be charged with a crime punishable with up to five years’ jail,’’ Mr Brandis said.
The new offence of advocating terrorism creates penalties if people “intentionally counsel, promote, encourage or urge the doing of a terrorist act or the commission of a terrorism offence’’, he said.
Current legislation left authorities with little choice but to release Islamic State cheerleader Musa Cerantonio without charge.
He is regarded as one of the most popular Australian advocates for IS terrorists online, and has endorsed attacks on Western leaders on his Facebook account.
Under new laws, Australia’s spooks will also retain legal immunity if they kill or cause grievous bodily harm to terrorism suspects to protect the lives of bystanders or themselves.
“Let’s put this in context. This is about a life and death situation,’’ Senator Brandis said.
Existing laws contain provisions for the use of force in extreme circumstances, only permissible when the officer has reasonable grounds to conclude it “is necessary to protect life or prevent serious injuries’’.
Islamic preacher and Islamic State cheerleader Musa Cerantonio. Source: News Corp Australia
New laws will retain those but amend the legislation to remove other provisions stating force is permitted only if there is no alternative way of taking a person into custody.
Senator Brandis said the new laws were a tough but measured response to the terror threat and would include provisions to seize passports and declare designated areas overseas that will be assumed to be engaging in terrorist activities if they visit. The laws will also empower authorities to arrest foreign fighters
Suspects will also face jail terms of up to five years for tampering with records. There is currently no specific offence for destroying or tampering with evidence with the intent of preventing it from being produced in an ASIO questioning warrant.
The laws will also enhance the capacity of the Attorney-General to grant a questioning warrant to ASIO officers so that is no longer only as a last resort. Questioning warrants will be granted to ASIO where it is “reasonable in the circumstances’’.
Changes to the Crimes Act will also lower the arrest threshold to ensure a constable may, without a warrant, arrest a person for a terrorism offence when they “suspects on reasonable grounds’’ that person has committed or is committing an act.
source: theaustralian.com.au
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