Thursday, June 24, 2021

Submissions on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill

Friday 25 June is the last day to make submissions on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill.

 The Bill is the government’s response to Recommendation 18 of the Royal Commission Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques to “…Review all legislation related to the counter-terrorism effort…to ensure it is current and enables Public sector agencies to operate effectively, prioritising consideration of the creation of precursor terrorism offences in the Terrorism Suppression Act…”

To do this, the Bill amends three current Acts: the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 (TSA), the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, and the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Act 2019, and it:

A.    widens the definition of terrorism

B.    introduces three new offences -

       planning or preparing to carry out a terrorist act,

       providing or receiving combat and weapons training for terrorist purposes,

       international travel to or from or via NZ with intention for terrorist acts.

C.     widens the offence of financing terrorism to include providing material support

D.    extends Control Orders.

 All three Acts the Bill is amending are controversial. The TSA 2002 was criticised by many as a rushed through knee-jerk reaction to 9/11, eroding fundamental rights and freedoms. The Search and Surveillance Act removed the right to silence and the privilege against self-incrimination whilst also dramatically expanding search and surveillance powers. The Control Orders Act allowed secret courts and punishment and state intrusion into people’s lives. The Privacy Commissioner said Control Orders were “an affront to the principles of due process and the principles on which our criminal justice system are based.”