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The Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005

Click here to view common questions and answers on the Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005.

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The Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005 is an act to amend the law relating to terrorist acts, and for other purposes. The  principal features of the  Act are:

a) an extension of the definition of a terrorist organisation to enable listing of organisations that advocate terrorism;
b) a new regime to allow for ‘control orders’ that will allow for the overt close monitoring of terrorist suspects who pose a risk to the community;
c) a new police preventative detention regime that will allow detention of a person  for up to 48 hours without charge where it is reasonably necessary to prevent a terrorist act or to preserve evidence of such an act;
d) updated sedition offences to cover those who urge violence or assistance to Australia’s enemies;
e) strengthened offences of financing of terrorism by better coverage of the collection of funds for terrorist activity;
f) a new regime of stop, question, search and seize powers that will be exercisable at airports and other Commonwealth places to prevent or respond to terrorism;
g) a new notice to produce regime to ensure the AFP is able to enforce compliance with lawful requests for information that will facilitate the investigation of a terrorism or other serious offence;
amendments to ASIO’s special powers warrant regime;
h) amendments to the offence of providing false or misleading information under an ASIO questioning warrant;
i) amendments to authorise access to airline passenger information for law enforcement and intelligence agencies;
j) the creation of a legal basis for the use of video surveillance at Australia's major airports and on aircraft; and
k) additional implementation of FATF Special Recommendations covering criminalising financing of terrorism, alternative remittance dealers, wire transfers and cash couriers.

Click here to view the Anti-terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005.