Skip to content
Defence, Legal

Declared Areas Offence under review by the Intelligence and Security Committee

Parliament of Australia < 1 min read

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security will hold a public hearing for its review of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Declared Areas) Bill 2024 (Declared Areas Bill) on Monday, 20 May 2024.

Counter-terrorism provisions within the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Criminal Code) include the ability for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to ‘declare’ an area, making it a potential offence, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, for an Australian citizen, resident or visa-holder to enter or remain in the area. The declared areas offence is presently due to sunset in September 2024.

The Committee has invited Government and non-government representatives to its hearing to discuss the Declared Areas Bill, which primarily aims to continue the declared areas offence and related provisions in the Criminal Code for a further three years.

Committee Chair, Mr Peter Khalil MP, said ‘The Committee has received mixed evidence regarding the declared areas offence. We look forward to hearing from a range of Government and non-Government witnesses to inform our review and report to Parliament.’

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

The Committee’s website has a full program for the hearing, and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Public hearing

Monday, 20 May 2024
11:30 am – 2:30 pm AEST
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra, and via videoconference

Media inquiries

Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP, via Lachlan Hinds
0455 999 677
[email protected]

For background information

Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on intelligence and Security
(02) 6277 2360
[email protected]

For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

More from this category

  • Government NSW, Legal
  • 18/03/2026
  • 16:45
Law Society of NSW

Human Rights Inquiry can and should lead to positive reform

Media Release Wednesday, 25 February 2026 Human Rights Inquiry can and should lead to positive reform The referral today of a Human Rights Bill…

  • Contains:
  • Government Federal, Legal
  • 18/03/2026
  • 16:12
Law Society of NSW

Vale Sir Anthony Mason

Statement Wednesday, 25 February 2026 Vale Sir Anthony Mason On behalf of the Law Society of NSW, I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE GBM KC who passed away last night. Sir Anthony’s remarkable achievements in the law are well known, most notably in his service as Chief Justice of Australia capping his 23 years as a judge of the High Court of Australia. These include the recognition of native title and abandonment of the doctrine of terra nullius in Mabo v Queensland (No2); and the recognition of a…

  • Contains:
  • Community, Legal
  • 18/03/2026
  • 07:41
18 March 2026

‘On Your Terms’ – national survey to strengthen sex and consent education

The Australian Human Rights Commission will today launch On Your Terms, a national survey of young people to help inform improvements to consent, respectful relationships and sex education in Australia. National Children’s Commissioner Deb Tsorbaris said: ‘We know this topic can be difficult for some people to talk about. We’re inviting young people to do this anonymous survey and share their views and experiences. Their voice will help improve consent education, so it is relevant, timely and helpful for young people. ‘We need to hear from young people and meet them where they’re at with real life, useful education to…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.