To move - That the Senate-

Notes that:

i. Over forty terrorism laws have been enacted in relation to terrorism since 2001, some of which included significant departures from established principles of Australian law;

ii. Due to the exceptional nature of these complex laws, and to ensure scrutiny, accountability and transparency, an independent reviewer has been recommended

• by the Security Legislation Review Committee chaired by the Hon Simon Sheller AO QC in June 2006 the

• by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in December 2006 and again in 2007

• by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee in October 2008

• by the Senate through the passage of a Private Senator's Bill in November 2008

iii. Independent review mechanisms are a feature of best practice in like-minded democracies;

iv. The government's response to various reviews issued on 23 December 2008.

Calls on the Australian government to:

i. Introduce legislation to establish the independent reviewer of terrorism laws mechanism announced as the National Security Legislation Monitor in the Attorney Generals press release of 23 December 2008;

ii. Update the Senate as to the government's intended timetable for the introduction of the legislation.

Question agreed to.