Communal violence and violent protest Section 17A of the ASIO Act expressly prohibits ASIO from investigating peaceful and lawfully conducted protest or advocacy activity. ASIO investigates protest activity only when it includes, or has the potential to include, planned violent activity or where it has the potential to impinge on the security of certain designated persons and places. However, ASIO may prepare threat assessments in relation to demonstration or protest activity on the basis of information it already has or which is passed to it by other agencies. ASIO’s threat assessment function is an integral part of national arrangements for the protection of high office holders, internationally protected persons, sites of national significance and critical infrastructure. ASIO remains vigilant in regard to those who may seek to use protests as a vehicle for inciting violence by deliberately using tactics likely to provoke a violent reaction. During 2012–13 we saw elements of this approach in Australia, as well as related heightened tensions between anti–Islam groups and Islamist extremists. The Syrian conflict has exacerbated pre-existing political and sectarian divisions in Australia, which has led to a range of threats and acts of communal violence during the past year by both pro– and anti–Syrian Government supporters.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:01:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015