Asio fights to expand ‘extraordinary’ questioning warrants to more offences despite barely using exisiting powers

Human rights commissioner says ‘no compelling evidence’ to support request, noting original powers for minors were meant to be temporary

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Domestic spy agency Asio wants to expand its “extraordinary” powers under compulsory questioning warrants to apply to more offences, but says it no longer needs its controversial powers to question minors.

Director general Mike Burgess said on Thursday that Asio requires new and broader powers to question people in connection to sabotage, attacks on defence infrastructure and communal violence – despite admitting Asio has barely used the powers it already has.

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