Country of fear: Australia of 2002 was preoccupied with national security

Cabinet papers 2002: even before the Bali attacks, the Howard government passed sweeping anti-terrorism laws in response to 9/11

Australia’s politics were dominated by its response to international terrorism throughout 2002, a focus that intensified when the Bali bombers struck in October. Well before the devastating attack that killed 88 Australians in two Kuta nightclubs, John Howard’s government was pushing through a series of anti-terrorism laws in reaction to the 11 September attacks the previous year.

The new laws delivered sweeping powers to intelligence and police forces, and Australia was preparing to join the US in Iraq.

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Law (Australia) | The Guardian