Anti-terrorism measures Howard Government

howard secretary of state condoleezza rice, attorney general philip ruddock , foreign minister alexander downer in march 2006.

in mid-2005, john howard , cabinet began discussions of new anti-terror legislation includes modification crimes act 1914. in particular, sections relating sedition modified. on 14 october 2005, jon stanhope (chief minister of act) took controversial step of publishing confidential draft of federal anti-terrorism bill 2005 on website. action both praised , criticised. citing concerns civil rights raised australian national university concerns on speed of legislation s passage through parliament, later refused sign off on revised version of legislation, becoming state , territorial leader not sign. house of representatives passed anti-terrorism legislation debated in senate before final implementation in december 2005.

on 2 november 2005 howard held press conference announce had received information police , australian security intelligence organisation (asio) indicated imminent terrorist attack in australia. within week, on 8 november, anti-terrorist raids held across melbourne , sydney, 17 suspected terrorists arrested, including abdul nacer benbrika. these raids, according howard, demonstrated need anti-terrorism bill.

after mohamed haneef spent 12 days in jail without charges (he incorrectly suspected have supported perpetrators of foiled terror attacks in london , glasgow in july 2007), anti-terrorism bill , impact on separation of powers became more publicly discussed. when judge found insufficient evidence charges against haneef, minister of immigration kevin andrews withdrew haneef s working visa. while howard government unequivocally backed kevin andrew s decision, members of judicial community in australia expressed concern interference of government in judicial proceedings.