Urged to appoint counterterrorism law overseer

WELLINGTON: The Government is being asked to consider appointing an independent person to review how counterterrorism laws operate in New Zealand.

Earlier this week, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi introduced the CounterTerrorism Legislation Bill, which seeks to add various terrorism offences to law.

They include offences for travelling to or from New Zealand with the intention to carry out a terrorist offence, planning or preparing for a terrorist act, or weapons training or combat training for terrorist purposes.

Police and the SIS would have warrantless powers of entry, search and surveillance when suspecting someone of planning a terrorist attack.

John Ip, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland specialising in counterterrorism— , said the Bill was as expected after the completion of the royal commission of inquiry into the mosque attacks in March 2019.

He said the Government had borrowed from Commonwealth partners in forming its counterterrorism— law, and it could perhaps borrow further by adding an office that looked at how those laws were put into practice.

‘‘The obvious one [oversight office] there would be the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation in the United Kingdom, or the independent national security monitor in Australia.

‘‘These are persons whose sole remit is to look at the exercise of terrorism powers.’’

They usually had access to nonpublic classified information and could write reports to help inform public debate and legislative scrutiny.

Mr Ip said an independent reviewer could not prevent untoward behaviour by agencies using counterterrorism— laws, but would be able to shine a light on it if it were to happen. — RNZ