Ross Meurant: Beware of the words “internal security”

Apropos the question of whether, in New Zealand an individual (as opposed to conspiracy among three or more) planning a crime, can be – arrested and put before the Courts as I recently penned(1), Australia has the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill(2). 

Clause 5A of the Bill defines “Carrying out” preparations, credible threats, and attempts as follows:

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a terrorist act is carried out if any 1 or more of the following occurs:

(a) planning or other preparations to carry out the act, whether it is actually carried out or not: 

(b) a credible threat to carry out the act, whether it is actually carried out or not:

(c) an attempt to carry out the act:

(d) The carrying out of the act.