The NZCCL Submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence And Trade Select Committee recommended the withdrawal of all the amendments to the Terrorism (Bombing and Financing) Bill.

This submission arose as a result of a number of amendments to the Bill that substantially increased the powers of the state against any organisation deemed to be ‘terrorist’ even though the definition of ‘terrorism’ could encompass legitimate protest. There was no right for the public to make submissions on those amendments, in a move that we labelled an ‘assault on democracy’.

The Bill was passed as the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002.