Peter Dutton seeks more power for anti-terror spies

ASIO would be able to use tracking devices without a warrant under proposed legislation introduced on Wednesday.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in parliament on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s domestic spy agency would be able to place tracking ­devices in suspects’ cars or bags without a warrant under proposed legislation introduced into parliament on Wednesday.

The proposed laws would also allow ASIO to question 14-year-olds in investigations related to “politically motivated violence”, and to bar “unduly disruptive” lawyers.

The Law Council of Australia said it was concerned the proposed amendments to the Australian Security and Intelligence Act were “highly intrusive” and needed to be properly scrutinised.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the legislation would ensure intelligence officers had the powers they needed to tackle terrorism, espionage and political violence.

“The director-general recently noted in his annual threat assessment the number of terrorism leads ASIO is investigating has doubled since this time last year,” Mr Dutton told parliament.

Under the proposed changes, ASIO agents would need only to seek internal approval before using a tracking device, doing away with the current requirement for a warrant.

Previously, the lower age bracket for questioning was 16.

“The minimum age has been lowered from 16 to 14 as a response to the increased threat posed by minors,” the bill’s explainer says.

ASIO would be able to deprive adults of a lawyer if they thought the lawyer would alert others involved in the alleged activity, or if the lawyer was blocking officers’ questions.

Law council president Pauline Wright said: “The amendments propose a redesign of the use of questioning warrants and we are concerned that there may be very limited time to scrutinise the proposed laws, which are lengthy, complex and highly intrusive on individual rights.”