Parliamentary inquiry submission makes case for wider powers to detain without charge and jail people for refusing to answer questions. How does ASIO know the answers are available?

Under the current scheme Asio may detain and question a person without charge for up to seven days, during which time refusing to answer questions may lead to imprisonment. People can essentially be held without contact with the outside world, may lose the right to silence and may be subject to coercive questioning.

Currently the extraordinary powers can be used only as a last resort, if the attorney general believes less intrusive methods of gathering intelligence will not be effective. Now that’s no longer required.

University of Sydney law professor Ben Saul  says

“ASIO detention powers should be repealed, not extended. Detaining non-suspects for up to seven days, virtually incommunicado and without effective review at the time, removing the right to silence on penalty of imprisonment, and criminalising any disclosure of detention, is excessive and disproportionate in view of existing powers, the level of terrorist threat, and the absence of any declared public emergency justifying derogation from protected human rights. “

Welcome to facist Australia the land of silent imprisonment. Looking for a missing person ASIO wont tell you.