Editors --- "The 2002 Security Legislation Review and New Security Laws" [2006] AdminRw 18; (2006) 57 Admin Review 92

• The 2002 security legislation review and new security laws

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The 2002 security legislation review and new security laws

On 12 October 2005, as required by s 4 of the Security Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Act 2002 (Cth), the Commonwealth Attorney-General set up an independent committee to assess the operation, effectiveness and implications of amendments made by the following Commonwealth Acts:

• the Security Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Act 2002

• the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism Act 2002

• the Criminal Code Amendment (Suppression of Terrorist Bombings) Act 2002

• the Border Security Legislation Amendment Act 2002

• the Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Act 2002.

The Security Legislation Review Committee is chaired by the Hon Simon Sheller, a recently retired New South Wales Supreme Court judge, and began public hearings in 2006.

The Committee’s duties include identification of alternative approaches and mechanisms for these statutes and provision of a written report, to be tabled in Parliament, within six months of starting the review. More information is available at <http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/ agdhome.nsf/0/C2CE3EBE73794EF8CA2570A5001FAB3C>.

On 7 December 2005 the Anti-Terrorism Bill (No 2) 2005 was passed after the House of Representatives approved the amendments made by the Senate. The Bill introduces a wide range of changes to Australia’s current anti-terrorism laws. The full report of the Senate inquiry into the legislation is available at <http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte /terrorism/index.htm>.