Nicola Berkovic
The Australian
March 21, 2012
LEADING criminal barristers have called for aspects of Australia’s anti-terrorism regime to be reined in, saying the laws were an overreaction to threats perceived in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Their comments follow the release yesterday of a report by the new national security legislation watchdog, Bret Walker SC, which questioned whether some of the counter-terrorism laws should be repealed because they were excessive or had been designed as temporary.
The laws include an ability for authorities to question suspects for 24 hours at a time and hold them for a week without charge.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!