Intelligence and Security Committee to hold hearing on ASIO’s questioning warrants

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hold a public hearing for its review into the operation, effectiveness and implications of Division 3 of Part III of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 today, May 23.

The laws under review allow the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to seek a warrant to compel an individual to attend questioning. These powers were originally introduced in 2003 as part of Australia’s counter-terrorism response and were significantly amended in 2020 following a review by the PJCIS.

Further amendments have been proposed by ASIO ahead of the hearing, including repealing questioning warrants for minors and making adult questioning warrants available for a wider range of purposes.

The committee has invited government and non-government representatives to its hearing to discuss the operation, effectiveness and implications of the powers.

Committee Chair, Peter Khalil MP, said, "‘The committee has received mixed evidence regarding ASIO’s compulsory questioning powers. We look forward to hearing from a range of government and non-government witnesses to inform our review and report to Parliament."

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

The committee’s website has a full program for the hearing, and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Public hearing

Thursday, 23 May 2024
9:15am – 3pm AEST
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra, and via videoconference

 

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