Labor, Coalition Back Expansion of ASIO Questioning Powers

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 has passed its second reading with support from Labor and the Coalition. This bill aims to make ASIO’s compulsory questioning powers permanent and broaden their application to include matters like sabotage and threats to Australia’s integrity. Despite passing the House of Representatives, the amendment faces opposition from One Nation, the Greens, and Senator David Pocock due to concerns over personal freedoms.

• A bill to expand ASIO’s questioning powers has passed its second reading in Parliament.
• The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 seeks to make compulsory questioning powers permanent and broaden their scope.
• These expanded powers would cover issues such as sabotage, promoting communal violence, and territorial/border integrity threats.
• Labor and the Coalition supported the bill, while One Nation, the Greens, and Senator David Pocock opposed it.
• Opposition concerns focus on potential threats to personal freedoms.