Labor and the Coalition have moved the ASIO Amendment Bill through the Parliament — a regime of compulsory questioning where a person can be required to answer, where legal representation is restricted, and where telling anyone it happened is itself an offence carrying prison. Does that give you any worries? It should.
Every small step, every loss of freedom, every step towards an authoritarian state is a step away from a transparent, free society.
The compulsory questioning framework has been in place since 2003, but it was previously limited to espionage, politically motivated violence including terrorism, and foreign interference. It now reaches across the heads of security under the ASIO Act:
Espionage · sabotage · politically motivated violence, including terrorism · promotion of communal violence · attacks on Australia’s defence system · acts of foreign interference · protection of Australia’s territorial and border integrity from serious threats.
“Promotion of communal violence” is the one to watch. It is broad, it is subjective, and it is the kind of phrase that ends up being pointed at protest.
Thanks to David Shoebridge for speaking up — one of the few.