An earlier abridged version of this article was first published on the World Socialist Web Site.
2.
The ASIO Amendment Legislation Act 2003 repealed the relevant provisions of the ASIO Act — s 34U (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11) and s. 34V (4), (5) and (6) — and replaced them by s 34VAA.
3.
ASIO Act s 34VAA (5).
4.
ASIO Act s 34VAA (3); Criminal Code Act (Cth) 1995 ss. 5.4, 6.1. For strict liability offences, the Criminal Code Act s. 9.2 provides for a defence of ‘mistaken but reasonable belief’ about facts.
5.
ASIO Act 3. 34VAA (5).
6.
Australia, Debates, Senate, 4 December 2003, 18790 (Finance Minister Nick Minchin).
7.
This record has been documented in several works and official inquiries. See, for example, McKnightD, Australia's Spies and their Secrets (1994); HallR, The Secret State, (1978); CainF, The Origins of Political Surveillance in Australia, (1983); CainF, ASIO, an Unofficial History, (1994); HockingJ, Beyond Terrorism, The Development of the Australian Security State, (1993); Commonwealth of Australia, Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security: Fourth Report, (1977), vols 1 and 2.
8.
ASIO Act s 34HB (8), (9), (11) and (12).
9.
ASIO Act s 34JC.
10.
Passports Act 1938 (Cth) ss 8. 11A.
11.
ASIO Act ss 34A to 34Y.
12.
Ibid s 34C.
13.
Ibid s 34L.
14.
Ibid s 34C.
15.
Ibid s 34K.
16.
Ibid ss 34B and 34DA.
17.
See ChaayaM, ‘The Right to Silence Reignited: Vulnerable Suspects, Police Questioning and Law and Order in NSW,’ (1998) 22Criminal Law Journal82. On police ‘verballing’ and videotaping in general see BrownNealFarrierWeisbrot, Criminal Laws, (2nd ed, 1996) 203–34.
18.
Williams v R (1986) 66 ALR 385.
19.
BronittSAyersM, ‘Criminal law and human rights,’ in KinleyD, (ed), Human Rights in Australian Law, (1998).
20.
Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration (1992) 176 CLR 1.
21.
Australia, Debates, House of Representatives, 2 December 2003, 23126 (Michael Organ MP).
22.
Ibid.
23.
‘Claims ASIO bill will gag the press’, The Age, 3 December 2003.
24.
Australia, Debates, House of Representatives, 2 December 2003, 23126 (Michael Organ MP).
Australia, Debates, Senate, 4 December 2003, 18785–18799.
27.
Ibid. 18795 and 18798.
28.
HeadM, ‘Counter-terrorism’ laws: A threat to political freedom, civil liberties and constitutional rights', (2002) 26Melbourne University Law Review266.
29.
See generally, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 (Cth).
30.
See HockingJ, above n 6, Chapter 8.
31.
Ibid and LeeHHanksPMorabitoV, In the Name of National Security, The Legal Dimensions, (1995) ch 3.
32.
Nationwide News Pry Ltd v Wills (1992) 177 CLR 1 and Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1992) 177 CLR 106.
33.
ASIO Act s 34VAA (12).
34.
[1982] 154 CLR 25.
35.
(1984) 156 CLR 532.
36.
Most states have legislated accordingly: WilliamsD, ‘Reference of Terrorism Powers’ (Press Release, 27 March 2003).
37.
HeadM, above n 27.
38.
Per HigginsJ, in R v Kidman (1915) 20 CLR 425, 448: ‘There is not in our Constitution … any power to make laws as to “the criminal law”.’
39.
Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security (Commissioner Justice Robert Hope), Fourth Report: Volume 1 (1978) 60–65, Royal Commission on Australia's Security and Intelligence Agencies (Commissioner Justice Robert Hope), Report on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (1985) 88–89, and V Windeyer, above n 18 at 291.
40.
Kruger v Commonwealth (1997) 190 CLR 1.
41.
Chu Kheng Lim v MILGEA (1992) 176 CLR 1.
42.
See Krygger v Williams (1912) 12 CLR 366 and Adelaide Company of Jehovah's Witnesses v Commonwealth (1943) 67 CLR 116.
