Australian Financial Review
ASIO will get broader powers to deal with people smuggling and the federal government will toughen penalties for offenders after an influx of asylum-seeker boats.
Announced today by Attorney-General Robert McClelland, the move comes as the government has unveiled a series of pre-election security announcements, including a counterterrorism white paper warning that the threat of home-grown terrorism is here to stay.
Mr McClelland said last night the legislative package to be introduced today would enable ASIO - the nation's top domestic spy agency - to investigate people smuggling and other threats to border security.
The government is under pressure to do more about asylum seekers as 14 boats have been intercepted this year. The opposition has accused the government of being a "soft touch" on asylum seekers, declaring 2010 "the year of the people smuggler".
But Mr McClelland said last night the changes to people-smuggling laws would target both those who finance or provide support to smugglers, as well as impose tougher penalties on people-smuggling activities.
The bill will provide a new offence of providing material support for people smuggling, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison or a fine of $110,000.
It will also create a new offence of people smuggling involving exploitation or causing death or serious harm,with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison or a fine of $220,000.
Mr McClelland said the government was committed to targeting criminal groups as part of a multi-pronged approach.
The development came as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday launched a long-awaited counter- terrorism white paper that warned the focus of terrorism has shifted
globally to countries such as Yemen and Somalia, with the government preparing to spend $70 million to tighten visa checks for people from 10 of the most terror-prone countries. Mr Rudd also said a multi-agency counterterrorism control centre would be established within ASIO with a brief to co-ordinate intelligence across government.
He said Australia could be hit by a terrorist attack at any time. It was also at greater risk of a home-grown terror attack. "Terrorism continues to pose a serious threat and a serious challenge to Australia's security interests ... that threat is not diminishing," Mr Rudd warned. However, the chairman of the Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs,Defence and Trade, Liberal senator Russell Trood , last night said the report as "underwhelming".
"But the greatest failing of this white paper is the disconnect between the threat from home-grown terrorism and the proposed policy solutions to the problem," he said.
The initiatives follow a move two weeks ago to invest $200 million beefing up aviation security in response to the failed "underpants
bomber" attack on a United States aircraft on Christmas Day. The package includes funding to introduce full-body scanners at airports, to double explosive detection scans, improve cargo screening and broaden security checks on airport cargo handlers.
by John Kerin
Australian Financial Review
Wednesday 24/2/2010 Page: 11 Section: General News