Perth Voice Interactive

LOCAL Liberal MP Michael Keenan has played a key role in the passage of new laws that dramatically increase ASIO’s powers and allow journalists to be jailed for up to 10 years.

As federal justice minister the Stirling MP was responsible for shepherding the bill through the House of Representatives on Wednesday. It had already been approved by the Senate, where it had been introduced by attorney-general George Brandis.

Mr Keenan says the new law is necessary to tackle emerging security threats.

“The government’s number one priority is to keep Australia safe…from those who would do us harm,” he told parliament.

Labor’s support for the bill assured its speedy passage through the parliament, but it did not get through unscathed.

Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie, formerly a defence intelligence whistleblower, spoke passionately against it, as did Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt and conservative independent Cathy McGowan.

Fremantle Labor MP Melissa Parke broke ranks with her party leadership to publicly criticise the bill and, when it came to a vote—with Labor and Liberal MPs crowding one side of the chamber and just Wilkie, Bandt and McGowan on the other, Ms Parke was conspicuously not present.

The MPs’ concerns centred on provisions that allow journalists to be jailed for reporting on matters relating to “special intelligence operations” (SIOs), even if those reports do not hamper operations or place agents at risk, on sweeping new powers to spy on computers, and on immunities for ASIO officers to break the law while on SIOs.

Former independent national security legislation monitor Bret Walker SC last week told Fairfax media the new laws are so powerful they prevent anyone, including journalists, from ever disclosing the death of anyone during an SIO, even if the death is accidental and the person killed is not suspected of any illegal activity (eg, a child).

Perth Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan, however, is comfortable the new laws strike the right balance between national security and civil rights.

“Listen, this bill was the subject of strong internal debates in the party,” she says.

“I cannot categorically say we have got the balance absolutely right but the position we have adopted is not unreasonable.

“The government has not done a good job of explaining the rationale behind the bill and the class of powers approved is a lot more limited than people believe—it only applies to special intelligence operations.” She is preparing a letter to Perth constituents to explain her reasons for backing the bill.

by TEAM VOICE