PM's National Security Speech Flags Changes To Citizenship, Welfare Laws
Monday 23 February 2015 @ 12.50 p.m. | Legal Research
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made a speech today (23 February 2015) at the headquarters of the Australian Federal Police at which he announced a number of new measures designed to counter terrorism. This includes considering creating a new no-go zone in Mosul, Iraq; encouraging Parliament to pass the metadata retention laws and immigration restrictions that are currently stalled in the Senate; and a number of other changes.
Mr Abbott used strong language to describe why he thought the changes were necessary, saying:
“By any measure, the threat to Australia is worsening. The number of foreign fighters is up. The number of known sympathisers and supporters of extremism is up. The number of potential home grown terrorists is rising. The number of serious investigations continues to increase.”
National Counter Terrorism Review
Mr Abbott’s speech coincided with the release of a Government review of Australia’s counter-terrorism machinery, which was commissioned in August last year. The review recommended the development of “ a new national counter-terrorism strategy which appropriately coordinates and balances our efforts to counteract the various threats we face”. Another recommendation that “the Government significantly boost Counter Violent Extremism activities”, including expanding community and public-private partnerships.
Mr Abbott said “’[t]he government will carefully consider the findings and act as quickly as possible”, and said the Government already plans to appoint a National Counter Terrorism Coordinator to oversee increased co-operation between the various agencies.
Changes To Citizenship and Welfare
The Prime Minister also confirmed that the government is planning to amend the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth) to allow the suspension or revocation of Australian citizenship for dual nationals who “take up arms with terrorist groups”. For Australian nationals, the government is considering “suspending some of the privileges of citizenship… [including] restricting the ability to leave or return to Australia, and access to consular services overseas, as well as access to welfare payments”.
Terrorism Advocacy Laws
Mr Abbott also said the government plans to take action against hate preachers by enforcing strengthened terrorism advocacy laws. He said this action:
“includes new programmes to challenge terrorist propaganda… [a]nd it will include stronger prohibitions on vilifying, intimidating or inciting hatred.”
Response
The Guardian Australia reported that Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has said Labor will give “full and careful consideration” to any of Abbott’s proposals, saying:
“Labor believes that keeping Australia secure and our people safe is above politics. It is the solemn responsibility of our parliament.”
However, Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm told ABC News he was concerned that the threat of terror could be used to overly restrict freedoms, saying:
“[t]aking away the rights of all the rest of us, sacrificing a little liberty amongst all of us in the interests of safety, it's never worked.”
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