Two year review and stronger human rights safeguards set to improve Government’s anti-terror bill

The Green Party is pleased with further improvements to the Government’s proposed terrorism law, Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman said today.

The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill has been reported back from Select Committee and a Government SOP has been agreed on the Bill.

“We’re making a suite of changes advocated for by the human rights and legal communities. I’m personally very grateful for their work on this legislation despite the short time frame allowed.

“A mandatory two year review into the working of this law is particularly important given the short Select Committee process. This will include reviewing whether there is an ongoing need for the law.

“We have also introduced a guarantee of access to legal aid, including by specialist lawyers. This protection will ensure fair process and access to justice.

“We’ve also prevented the National Party from taking this legislation down a dark pathway. They asked for the inclusion of 14 year-olds in this legislation, and indefinite control orders, with the potential that children of this age could be slapped with lifelong restrictions. They also tried to use this Bill to authorise 72 hour airport detention. I’m proud of the fact we’ve stopped that from happening and secured significant additional protections for the right to justice.

“In a free and democratic society we must ensure that constraints on rights and freedoms are only as restrictive as absolutely necessary. I’m proud that the Greens have been able to ensure that balance here.

“I would like to thank the people who submitted on this Bill despite the very tight timeframe. They have worked hard to improve the Bill and they’ve succeeded”.

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