Radicalised 14-year-olds to be held for up to 36 hours and right wing groups targeted in terror crackdown in Victoria

A LEGAL body says there are ‘serious question marks’ over unprecedented new changes recommended for Victoria that would allow terror suspects as young as 14 to be held for 36 hours without charge.

TERROR suspects as young as 14 would be held for 36 hours without charge, under law changes recommended for Victoria.

The government has also been warned to monitor right and left-wing groups which pose a threat to Victorians, not only Islamic extremists.

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The changes have been recommended following a review by former top police officer Ken Lay, who was brought in to overhaul Victoria’s terrorism laws.

It is the second report released into the state’s terrorism laws and will lead to an overhaul of legislation.

Former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay and premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Steve Tanner

Police on the scene of last nights siege incident in Brighton. Forensics at the scene. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Police on the scene of last nights siege incident in Brighton. Forensics at the scene. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Currently, children as young as 16 suspected of terrorism-related activities can be held on a Preventative Detention Order. This would be reduced to 14.

A total of 26 recommendations have been made by the expert terror panel and have all been accepted in principle.

The proposed scheme would be overseen by the Commissioner for Children and Young People to avoid potential harm to teenage Victorians.

Premier Daniel Andrews welcomed the review and said the legislative reforms would be introduced in 2018.

“These new measures give our law enforcement agencies the powers they need,” Mr Andrews said.

“We have seen, and there is every chance we may see again, children as young as 14 years old at significant risk.

“The recommendation is to extend the preventive detention orders to detain children of 14 years old with the right checks and balances.

“The key point here is to make the change necessary to keep Victorians safe.”

Premier Daniel Andrews welcomed the review and said legislative reforms would be introduced in 2018.

Mr Andrews also announced programs around targeting high-risk radicals would be strengthened with $9.4 million in immediate funding.

At least two recommendations will require discussions with the federal government including adjusting the definition of a terrorist act.

It is the second report by Mr Lay, who said countering violent extremism was a main focus and identified a need to build “frontline capacity” to help take early action.

He also identified that Islamic-focused extremism was not the only threat in Victoria with right and left-wing groups also needing early identification.

“The panel saw a gap in the right and left-wing space,” he said.

“We have also asked the government to do some research into the effects of Islamophobia.”

Terrorists already in jail who continue to be a threat after release will face stricter monitoring under new supervision orders similar to high-risk sex offender laws.

It is the final report from the terror probe which was touted as the biggest overhaul of Victorian laws since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

It was commissioned after the Brighton terror attack, which left one man dead.

The Law Institute of Victoria spokesman Bruce Tobin said the move was concerning.

“The LIV supports keeping all Victorians safe, but there are serious question marks around proposed terrorism law that mean children as young as 14 could be held for 36 hours without a Supreme Court order and without charge,’’ he said.

“Stronger safeguards, including strict oversight from the courts, need to be in place to protect children if they are to be held in custody under these proposed new terrorism laws.”

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