Critical Security Legislation Coming

The Government will be tabling critical pieces of legislation in the 2020/21 fiscal year to improve security operations.

These include Law Enforcement (Protection of Integrity) Act, the Corrections (Amendment) Act, and the Aliens Act and Immigration Restriction Commonwealth Citizenship Act (Amendments) Legislation.

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the disclosure while delivering the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament on Tuesday (February 11) under the theme ‘Towards a Decade of Growth to Anchor Our Peace and Prosperity’.

He said that the Law Enforcement (Protection of Integrity) Act will encourage and promote integrity among persons provided with law-enforcement powers, thereby strengthening measures for the prevention and detection of acts of corruption and other criminal acts.

The Corrections (Amendment) Act will update and strengthen the law and make it more aligned to current trends, taking into consideration modern technological advances and increases in existing penalties for breaches.

In addition, the Aliens Act and Immigration Restriction Commonwealth Citizenship Act (Amendments) Legislation will allow for improved management of current trends in immigration breaches and border security control mechanisms.

The Governor-General said that the Government maintains that a whole-of-society approach is required to tackle the issue of crime and violence.

He noted that through the infusion of technology and significant capital investment, the Government will continue its multi-agency approach to social-intervention efforts.

Meanwhile, he said during the 2019/20 legislative year, the Government made considerable strides in advancing its policy agenda to support national crime-fighting strategies.

This included the passage of the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act, 2019, and attendant Regulations, to strengthen local anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing efforts.

The development of Regulations to support the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, amendments to the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act as well as the Firearms Act, were also achieved.

“These pieces of legislation are expected to significantly curtail and disrupt the work of organised criminal networks,” he said.

The Throne Speech outlines the priority programmes and policies to be pursued by the Government in the new fiscal year, which begins on April 1.