Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (AFP Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2022

The majority voted in favour of a motion to agree with the remaining stages of the bill so that it can be passed in the Senate. Because the bill was already passed in the House of Representatives, it will now become law.

What does this bill do?

According to the bill digest:

• This Bill extends for 12 months (from 7 December 2022 until 7 December 2023) the sunsetting dates for stop, search and seizure powers, control orders and preventative detention orders.
• The Government believes that these powers are critical to support Australia’s counter‑terrorism framework.
• The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) conducted a statutory review of these powers and presented its report in October 2021. The PJCIS recommended extending these powers until 2025, subject to certain amendments, including the introduction of additional safeguards.
• In order to respond to the PJCIS’s recommendations, as well as consult with states/territories and prepare draft legislation, the Government is seeking to extend the relevant sunsetting dates.
• Stakeholders, including the Law Council of Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission, have previously raised concerns about extending these powers.