Asio director general Mike Burgess says it no longer needs its controversial powers to question minors but wants to expand powers to more offences.Asio director general Mike Burgess says it no longer needs its controversial powers to question minors but wants to expand powers to more offences.Domestic spy agency Asio wants to expand its “extraordinary” powers under compulsory questioning warrants to apply to more offences, but says it no longer needs its controversial powers to question minors.
But the proposed extension of powers has been criticised, with Australian human rights commissioner Lorraine Finlay saying there is “no compelling evidence” to support the request for expanded powers and noting the original powers were meant to be temporary. Asio’s submission said its power to “question suspected terrorists as a last resort remains an important capability”, and the expansion of those powers tocould be used where voluntary questioning is unsuccessful, including interviewing a terror suspect or a government employee in contact with foreign spies.
“We’re frequently accused of having and collecting all these powers. It’s refreshing that we can have a debate on Asio suggesting we give one power up, because we don’t believe, as a security service, we need it,” Burgess said. “Careful consideration should be given to the ongoing need for the extraordinary powers that have significant human rights implications and were only ever intended to be temporary,” she said.
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