Terror laws a ‘backward step for democracy’

The president of the Human Rights Commission has lashed the federal government over the impact of new terror laws on journalists, arguing they are a “serious backward step for democracy.”

Speaking at an Al Jazeera event in Sydney in support of Australian journalist Peter Greste who has been jailed by Egyptian authorities, Professor Gillian Triggs told the audience that press freedom was a major issue both overseas and at home.

“As things stand at the moment, journalists risk very serious penalties for reporting and investigating ASIO operations and in my view that is serious backward step for democracy,” said Triggs, noting how the recently passed laws give more powers to security agencies, and allow journalists to be jailed for up to ten years if they report on ASIO operations which have been classed as “special intelligence operations”.

“This is something that all Australians need to be aware of,” she said. “You’ll be aware that the new legislation which has been passed attacks those journalist who might protect whistleblowers, which is a travesty of justice.”