TY - JOUR
T1 - Antiterrorism legislation in Australia
T2 - A proportionate response to the terrorist threat?
AU - Michaelsen, Christopher
PY - 2005/7
Y1 - 2005/7
N2 - This article examines key provisions of Australia's antiterrorism legislation introduced in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks. Never before in history has Australia witnessed a comparable overhaul of national security legislation and the introduction of laws that significantly curtail civil liberties and fundamental freedoms. A question that thus needs to be addressed is whether or not Canberra's drastic legislative measures are justified by the severity of the terrorism threat to Australia. It is argued that the actual risk of a terrorism attack occurring on Australian soil is rather low. As a consequence, the Howard government's antiterrorism laws constitute a disproportionate response that has worrisome long-term implications for Australia's legal system and its society more generally.
AB - This article examines key provisions of Australia's antiterrorism legislation introduced in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks. Never before in history has Australia witnessed a comparable overhaul of national security legislation and the introduction of laws that significantly curtail civil liberties and fundamental freedoms. A question that thus needs to be addressed is whether or not Canberra's drastic legislative measures are justified by the severity of the terrorism threat to Australia. It is argued that the actual risk of a terrorism attack occurring on Australian soil is rather low. As a consequence, the Howard government's antiterrorism laws constitute a disproportionate response that has worrisome long-term implications for Australia's legal system and its society more generally.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=27944508267&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10576100590950138
DO - 10.1080/10576100590950138
M3 - Review article
SN - 1057-610X
VL - 28
SP - 321
EP - 339
JO - Studies in Conflict and Terrorism
JF - Studies in Conflict and Terrorism
IS - 4
ER -