Optional Support for People at Risk of Violent Extremism; Bill Lets Police Declare More Areas for Weapons Searches; Fines for Blocking Weapons Searches
Terrorism (Community Protection) and Control of Weapons Amendment Bill 2024
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
child safety criminal penalties information sharing law enforcement national security police powers public safety
Introduced by: The Hon Anthony Carbines MP (ALP) — Leader of the House, Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Major Events, Minister for Medical Research, Minister for Racing; The Hon Enver Erdogan MLC (ALP) — Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Finance, Minister for Government Services
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Chief Commissioner of Police can refer a person to the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) Secretary for voluntary case management if they believe the person is vulnerable to violent extremism and a therapeutic plan is appropriate.
A person is considered vulnerable to violent extremism if they have psychological, behavioural, or social needs that make them more likely to be recruited or influenced by ideologies that use violence, and they have shown support for violent extremism or associate with people who do.
The DJCS Secretary must get written informed consent from a person before developing a voluntary case management plan. If the person is under 18 and the DJCS Secretary believes they cannot understand or communicate the decision, the Secretary must also get written consent from a parent or guardian.
The DJCS Secretary and the Countering Violent Extremism MAP (CVE MAP) must continuously monitor how participants engage with their case management plans and their level of vulnerability to violent extremism.
The DJCS Secretary must co-develop case management plans in consultation with participants, rather than simply approving a plan proposed by the CVE MAP.
The DJCS Secretary and the CVE MAP have expanded powers to request and share information about referred persons and participants to help prepare advice and case management plans.
The DJCS Secretary can share information about why a person was referred or the contents of their case management plan with the parent or guardian of a person under 18.
Participants who want to withdraw their consent to the scheme must now notify a specific DJCS employee named in their plan, rather than a member of the CVE MAP.
The Chief Commissioner of Police can declare an area a 'designated area' for weapons searches if they believe violence or disorder involving weapons is likely to occur, even if it has not happened at that event before.
The Chief Commissioner of Police can now set the operation period for these designated areas to include reasonable times before and after an event, and can extend some unplanned designations up to 24 hours.
The waiting period between two planned designated area declarations for the same area is reduced from 10 days to 12 hours.
Anyone who obstructs or hinders a protective services officer conducting searches or seizures in a designated area can be fined 2 penalty units (2026: $418).