Amendments made to the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisations Act of 1979 have bestowed radical new powers to ASIO, and are some of the most significant changes the Howard government has made to counter terrorism. Some of the changes made under the act include:

-Power to detain anybody over the age of 16 who may be able to provide information

on terrorist activities.

-If they themselves are suspected of terrorist activity they may be detained for up to 7

days with a maximum of 48 hours questioning.

-New police powers to conduct searches on anyone regardless reasonable suspicion.

Another part of the legislation that has caused an uproar are the restrictions imposed on freedom of speech, while aiming to counter terrorism, the publics civil rights and liberties have had to be compromised. These laws are very effective at doing what they were intended to do, counter...