Editorial: There are serious issues about new laws on access to encrypted data and ASIO's expanded role
Australia’s national security agencies have secured very significant powers in recent years to meet new threats such as foreign political interference as well as help fight the older problems of terrorism and espionage.
But that does not mean Australia should shy away from a very robust debate on whether the new powers strike the right balance between protecting civil liberties and protecting citizens. Two examples that emphasise the fundamental point have come to light in the past week. Second, there are concerns about a bill before Parliament which would give the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation a range of new powers including lowering the minimum age for compulsory interrogation of detainees from 16 to 14. ASIO could also limit the right to legal representation in cases where lawyers “unduly disrupt” questioning.
Mr Burgess has every right to strongly disagree with a highly provocative analogy. But he should also accept that it is entirely right for informed citizens such as Mr Neal to be concerned about handing too much power to ASIO and other security agencies.
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