Attorney-General
The Hon Michelle Rowland MP
Minister for Home Affairs
Minister for Cyber Security
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Minister for the Arts
The Hon Tony Burne MP
Joint Media Release
Today, the Albanese Government introduced the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 to Parliament. The Bill seeks to reform a targeted set of Australia’s key counter-terrorism powers to ensure that those powers remain effective, proportionate and responsive to evolving threats.
The Bill extends critical counter-terrorism powers for a further three years and makes targeted amendments to those powers. This includes amendments to the control order and post-sentence order frameworks, which enable courts to impose orders on certain individuals to protect the public from terrorism.
These reforms will embed control orders as the primary Commonwealth mechanism for managing serious terrorist offenders in the community, and strengthen the control order and post-sentence order frameworks in the Criminal Code by:
- strengthening information sharing arrangements between the Commonwealth and states and territories
- facilitating access to more information about a person’s criminal history to inform control order and post-sentence order applications and proceedings
- strengthening the application of the control order framework to young people, while maintaining safeguards and consideration of the best interests of the young person
- enabling law enforcement agencies to obtain warrants for electronic surveillance when considering whether to request a control order in relation to a serious terrorist offender.
The Bill will also make technical amendments to the Criminal Code to strengthen the framework for listing terrorist organisations. It will also expand protections for United Nations and associated personnel to give effect to Australia’s obligations under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.
The Bill was developed in close consultation with law enforcement. Consistent with the Intergovernmental Agreement on Australia’s National Counter-Terrorism Arrangements, the Commonwealth has also worked closely with all States and Territories on the reforms.
Alongside the introduction of the Bill, the Government tabled its formal response in Parliament to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor’s Review of Division 105A. In developing the Bill, the Government carefully considered the report and its recommendations.
The Government will refer the Bill to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for consideration and report.
Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General, Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“Keeping Australians safe is a top priority for the Albanese Government.
“The devastating Bondi terrorist attack demonstrated the profound harm and evil that terrorism inflicts on individuals, families and communities. It also highlighted the complex and evolving nature of the terrorism threat facing Australia.
“Strengthening the operation of Australia’s core counter-terrorism legislation – while maintaining strong safeguards – will ensure our law enforcement agencies are equipped with the necessary tools to disrupt and manage imminent threats to the community.
“This is an important part of the Government’s continuing and holistic efforts to protect Australians from the threat of terrorism.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Home Affairs, Hon Tony Burke MP:
“Our Government is constantly working to ensure that our security, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have the tools they need to do their job and keep us safe.
“The threat landscape our agencies are facing is evolving faster than ever and it’s critical that the legal powers which underpin their options keep pace.”
