Victoria Police to receive additional spying powers to fight terrorism

The Victoria Police Department will now be given Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)-style counter-terrorism spying powers as part of a refurbishment of Victorian legislation targeted at protecting the community against post-Islamic State terror attacks.

The police will now be able to remotely access individuals’ computers and make copies of data which could allegedly assist in any terrorist-related investigations.

The latest move, which forms part of a detailed review of counter-terrorism legislation, is aimed at ensuring it’s compatibility with federal law as well as tightening legislative command to enable police and other organisations to address with latest terrorism activities.

Further, the review also includes measures to assure authorities can more widely attain covert search ­warrants for vehicles, vessels and aircraft as well as mandate precautionary detention orders to be sought regarding any future threat, rather than being confined to threats likely within a 14-day period.

Victoria Attorney-General Robert Clark said: "The report identifies several areas where definitions should be clarified and amendments made to ensure authorities have appropriate powers to investigate and, where necessary, detain suspects."

However, the government turned down the proposal that the occupier of a target home has to be informed about their property had been covertly searched within six months upon the execution of a secret raid.

The review also dismissed a proposal that investigators, in case of emergency, may skip the Supreme Court and refer to a senior police officer to spy phones or remotely access PCs.