Shoot-to-kill provisions of new anti-terror laws in Australia are likely be watered down after state leaders today warned they could lead to a repeat of the wrongful police shooting of a man in London.
However, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said the powers for police were not new and the Australian Federal Police already had the right to use deadly force if needed to protect further loss of life or serious injury.
"We are merely saying that if there is a risk to somebody else's life or bodily injury and there is no other way, they can use deadly force," Mr Howard told Australian radio.
He unveiled the new laws in September, in response to the July 7th bombings in London, and Australia's six states and two territories have signed off on the changes despite concerns they would undermine civil rights.
But state leaders in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland said the shoot-to-kill provisions were not part of their agreement with Mr Howard, and they want the section changed.
Under the laws, police will be able to detain suspects for a week at a time without charge, electronic tracking devices would be used to keep tabs on suspects, and supporting insurgents in countries like Iraq would carry a seven-year jail sentence.
Australia's Muslim community, civil liberties groups and Law Council have all expressed concerns, while three prominent law academics said the laws could breach Australian obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
