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Australia, July 22, 2009 – The Australian Government announced on Wednesday that it will be reviewing its counterterrorism laws. The new laws will give greater powers to police and intelligence agencies to stop fanatics from inciting violence based on race, religion or nationality.

According to Attorney General Robert McClelland, a draft of changes to the nation’s security and counterterrorism laws will be released in the coming weeks.

“A range of reforms will be put forward for consultation including seeking public input in relation to an offense of inciting violence against an individual on the basis or race, religion or nationality,” said McClelland in his address to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. “Notably, this would expand the opportunity for prosecuting those who attempt to induce others, including vulnerable youths, to commit acts of politically motivated violence.”

This review will be the first major change in Australia’s counterterrorism stance since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was elected into office in 2007.

McClelland cited successful prosecutions in Melbourne and Sydney that shows violent extremists are active in Australian communities.He said key factors that appeared to contribute regularly to extremism included reactions to overseas events, grievances with local and national issues and individual circumstances such as poor education and socio-economic factors.

He said that the Government would focus on four key areas: 1) Identifying and disrupting violent extremists; 2) Identifying at-risk groups and individuals and helping them resist violent extremism; 3) Maintaining social cohesion and resilience in communities and; 4) Using effective communications to challenge violent extremist messages and to support alternatives.

“Countering extremism was a national problem requiring a national response,” says McClelland

Source:
etaiwannews
theage.com.au