Australian Defence Force receives greater powers to respond to terrorism, riots

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State and Territory police forces may soon receive greater freedom to requests for military backup during terrorist attacks after a reform of Defence call-out powers that were introduced in federal parliament this week.

The Bill will also allow the Australian Defence Force to be pre-authorised to respond to terrorist threats within Australia, and will expand the military’s powers to search, seize, and control movement at the scene of a terrorist incident.

Minister for Defence Marise Payne said “The Turnbull Government will today [Saturday 28 June – which seems highly unusual – but is probably explained by a delay in actually publishing the press release without correcting the text – again] introduce a Bill to make it easier for the states and territories to seek assistance from the Australian Defence Force to respond to terrorist and other violent incidents”.

“The Defence Amendment (Call Out of the Australian Defence Force) Bill 2018 was developed in close consultation with state and territory governments to ensure a strengthened approach to combating terrorism, wherever it may occur,” she said.

The Bill will amend Part IIIAAA of the Defence Act 1903 to:
   *make it simpler for states and territories to request ADF support where necessary to assist in the event of a terrorist or other violent incidents, such as geographically dispersed or otherwise widespread, coordinated acts of violence;
   *allow the ADF to be pre-authorised to respond to threats on land, at sea and in the air;
   *simplify, expand and clarify the ADF’s powers to search, seize, and control movement at the scene of a terrorist incident; and
   *strengthen the ability of the ADF to respond to incidents occurring in more than one jurisdiction.
http://www.contactairlandandsea.com/2018/07/01/police-given-adf-anti-terror-and-riot-control-callout-powers/

I can agree with the need to make it easier for the police to call in the ADF to deal with terrorism, but I'm not sure they have any place in riots and the like.