Haste on for terror cyber law

PETER Dutton’s demand for a parliamentary committee to cut short its public hearings about proposed cyber laws is gaining support.

The Home Affairs Minister has written to the committee’s chairman, Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, stressing the need to speed up its report into encryption access.

Mr Dutton has warned of the potential for terrorist attacks over the holiday period if authorities do not have access to encrypted messaging platforms.

“The situation has become more urgent in light of the recent fatal terrorist attack in Melbourne and the subsequent disruption of alleged planning for a mass casualty attack,” he wrote to the committee, in a letter published by The Australian.

“I am gravely concerned that our agencies cannot rule out the possibility that others may also have been inspired by events in Melbourne to plan and execute attacks.

“For these reasons, I ask that the committee accelerate its consideration of this vital piece of legislation to enable its passage by the parliament before it rises for the Christmas break.”

Attorney-General Christian Porter has questioned why the committee is taking so long.

The committee has scheduled three public hearings on the Bill, with the final one set for December 4 — two days before parliament rises.

In releasing a joint statement with deputy chairman Anthony Byrne on Thursday, Mr Hastie left the door open for hearings to be cut short.

The legislation would require technology companies to hand over encrypted messages to authorities.

Australian Federal Police commissioner Andrew Colvin stressed the need for the laws, arguing there were places law enforcement agencies “can’t look, can’t see”.

“Almost every investigation we have involving terrorism, serious organised crime and child exploitation involves some levels of encryption,” Mr Colvin told ABC radio.