Lib anger as Labor spurns terror bill
Melbourne Age Date: October 18 2002
By Annabel Crabb
Labor yesterday baulked at passing the Federal Government's proposed legislation to expand ASIO's anti-terrorism powers, bringing an attack from Attorney-General Daryl Williams.
Mr Williams said Australia could not afford to delay the bill, which would allow the intelligence agency to detain witnesses for seven days without charging them, even if they were not direct suspects in terrorist activity.
"This legislation was not developed on a whim," he said. "It was part of a comprehensive government response to needs clearly identified in a review of counter-terrorism arrangements after September 11."
Labor Senate leader John Faulkner said even murder suspects were entitled not to be held without charge, and indicated the opposition would join minor parties to send the legislation back to a Senate inquiry.
"Labor will not support laws that attack the same democratic rights and freedoms we are seeking to protect from terrorism," he said.
While Mr Williams argued the urgency of passing new laws, the government was embarrassed by the revelation that it is yet to nominate a single organisation as a "proscribed" terrorist group under legislation passed three months ago.
In July, parliament passed legislation enacting penalties for people found to be supporting or encouraging proscribed terrorist groups, but Mr Williams conceded in question time yesterday that no groups - not even al Qaeda - had been listed.