Qld: Horan: new anti-terrorism laws are not good enough!

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Qld: Horan: new anti-terrorism laws are not good enough!

By Alex Murdoch and Nikki Todd

BRISBANE, Dec 1 AAP - The Queensland Nationals today slammed the state government fornot going far enough with proposed new anti-terrorism laws.

The new legislation, which will be introduced into parliament this week, is designedto prevent terrorists using legal technicalities to escape Australian justice.

It will refer power to the federal government, giving it jurisdiction over generalcriminal law, in case of a terror attack on home soil.

While Mr Horan praised the concept of an anti-terrorism initiative, he said Queenslandwould still offer terrorists a safe haven under the new legislation.

Mr Horan said the laws needed to include police powers to tap phones, under supervisionand approval, and the introduction of a counter terrorism unit within the Queensland PoliceForce.

"In Queensland, terrorists and drug dealers, even those under suspicion, can use theirmobile phones to conduct business safe in the knowledge that police haven't the authorityto listen in," he said.

Mr Horan said the counter terrorist unit would be trained to take over in the caseof an terrorist-based assault on home soil.

Premier Peter Beattie said the Terrorism (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2002, would allowthe federal government to share state powers.

"Clever lawyers representing known or suspected terrorists might try to argue nationallaws are not valid under the Australian Constitution," Mr Beattie said in a statement.

"I want to nail down these laws so tightly that Houdini won't be able to escape.

"We will allow the federal government to share some of our powers, if a terrorist strikeagainst Australians on home soil makes this necessary."

Attorney-General Rod Welford said the proposed law would refer state powers, that mightbe needed to bring terrorists to justice, to the Commonwealth.

"The federal government does not have general criminal law powers, so some powers mustbe referred to (it) by the states and territories," Mr Welford said.

"Our legislation ensures the necessary powers can be referred."

AAP am/nt/jmd/de

KEYWORD: TERROR QLD NIGHTLEAD