George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Bushby, for that very important question. Since 12 September last year, when Australia's national security agencies raised the national terrorism public alert level to high, 24 people have been charged as a result of nine counter-terrorism operations around Australia. That is more than one-third of all terrorism related arrests since 2001. The government constantly review our counter-terrorism laws to ensure they meet the needs of law enforcement and security agencies to respond to the changing threat environment.

On 12 June this year, when I addressed the Regional Summit to Counter Violent Extremism, in Sydney, I foreshadowed that the government would be introducing further counter-terrorism legislation later in the year—that is, in addition to the four tranches of counter-terrorism legislation that have been considered by this parliament in the last 12 months. The government has been discussing a range of reforms with law enforcement and security agencies and with the states and territories to respond to lessons learned from the increased operational activity of the past 12 months.

The bill will include amendments to implement recommendations from the Council of Australian Governments Review of Counter-Terrorism Legislation, as well as the learnings from that operational activity. Among other things, the bill will lower the age for a control order from 16 to 14 years, subject to appropriate safeguards; facilitate the monitoring of individuals subject to control orders through enhanced search, telecommunications interception and surveillance device regimes; provide greater protection to sensitive information in control order proceedings; and introduce a new offence of incitement of genocide. The bill will contain a range of other measures as well. It is the government's intention that it be dealt with by the parliament before the end of this year.