New laws to stop ‘home grown’ terrorism
The 2005 London bombings were a devastating reminder that terrorism can be 'home grown'.
With this in mind, the Australian Government in consultation with Australia’s States and Territories passed new anti-terrorism laws in mid-December 2005. These include amendments to Commonwealth legislation that enable Australia to better deter and prevent potential acts of terrorism at home, to prosecute when they occur, and to restrict the movement of those who pose a terrorist threat to the community.
Australia’s ability to curtail terrorist organisations has also been expanded to include organisations which advocate terrorism.
The AFP works with State and Territory police forces in Joint Counter Terrorism Teams. These teams work closely with other domestic agencies, the intelligence community and international partners to identify and investigate any activities in Australia which may be linked to terrorism.
Control orders
Under the Anti-Terrorism Act (No.2) 2005, the AFP has primary responsibility for monitoring and administering control orders with close cooperation from Intelligence agencies, state and territory police, and other relevant departments and agencies.
Control orders, which must be issued by a Court, may be used where an individual poses a terrorist threat to the Australian community, but cannot be prosecuted. Control orders place obligations, prohibitions and restrictions on a person including:
- being at specific areas or places
- accessing or using specific forms of technology
- communicating or associating with specific individuals
- remaining at specified premises between specified times each day
- wearing a tracking device
- reporting to specified persons at specified times and places.
First arrests
On 8 November 2005, shortly after passage of the Anti Terrorism Act 2005, 17 people were arrested in Melbourne and Sydney as a result of a joint counter-terrorism operation involving:
- the AFP
- NSW Police
- Victoria Police
- the NSW Crime Commission
- and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
Those arrested were charged with a range of offences including sections of Commonwealth legislation that had not been previously used, relating to being members of a terrorist group, conspiring to commit a terrorist act and directing a terrorist organisation.
What you can do
The National Security website is the Australian Government’s portal on national security issues. It includes:
- security advice
- legislation
- community information
- travel information.
- media releases
- a national security hotline.
More information
- A report on the Council of Australian Governments' Special Meeting on Counter-Terrorism, 27 September 2005 (PDF, 54kb)
- Media release, 8 November 2005: Terrorism Related Charges – this announces details of the first arrests made under Australia’s new anti-terrorism laws
- National Security website
Contacts
| Report information regarding terrorist activity in Australia | National Security Hotline | Ph: 1800 123 400 |