Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's DepartmentAchieving a Just and Secure Society

Security Law Branch

The Security Law Branch is responsible for the administration and development of legislation and the provision of legal and policy advice on counter-terrorism and national security related legal issues.
The Branch is made up of the following sections:

Security Legislation and Litigation Policy Section

The section is responsible for:

  • the administration of national security-related legislation, including the terrorism offences in the Criminal Code, the control order and preventative detention order provisions in the Crimes Act 1914 and theNational Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act (NSI Act)
  • providing advice to the Attorney-General on counter-terrorism related cases, including assisting the Attorney-General in fulfilling his functions under the NSI Act.

National Security Advising and Agency Section

The section is responsible for:

  • overseeing Australian Security Intelligence Organisation corporate issues, administering the ASIO Act and coordinating ASIO-related reforms
  • liaising and briefing on intelligence agency issues, and coordinating relevant legislative reforms
  • providing support, advice and briefings on oversight mechanisms (including Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, Inspector General of Intelligence and Security and National Security Legislation Monitor)
  • secrecy policy and non-disclosure offences
  • terrorist organisation listing
  • media protocol / arrangements

National Security Liaison and Projects

The section is responsible for:

  • the joint administration (with the Department of Defence) of Part IIIAAA of the Defence Act 1903, including providing advice and briefings to Ministers and the Governor-General in relation to the call out of the Australian Defence Force to resolve domestic violence such as terrorism
  • maintaining, developing and coordinating certain national security-related legislation, including, sedition and treason provisions in the Criminal Code Act 1995 and the offences in the Public Order (Protection of Persons and Property) Act 1973
  • the development and administration of counter terrorism legislation that implements several United Nations Counter-Terrorism instruments into domestic law
  • preparations and support for the Council of Australian Government Review of counter-terrorism legislation
  • the provision of Secretariat support for the Legal Issues Subcommittee of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee, and
  • administration of the Criminal Code offences relating to plastic explosives, including advising the Attorney-General in relation to requests for authorisations to deal with unmarked plastic explosives.