Second death in custody shatters tiny outback community
Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious.
The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation.
The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting.
Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident.
The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said.
The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest.
Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022.
The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case.
Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened.
Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much".
He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored.
In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said.
A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said.
NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update.
"Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
An Aboriginal community reeling after losing a second young man in a fatal police incident wants funding restored for programs to help youths avoid the criminal justice system.
Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious.
The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation.
The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting.
Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident.
The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said.
The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest.
Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022.
The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case.
Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened.
Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much".
He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored.
In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said.
A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said.
NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update.
"Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
An Aboriginal community reeling after losing a second young man in a fatal police incident wants funding restored for programs to help youths avoid the criminal justice system.
Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious.
The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation.
The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting.
Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident.
The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said.
The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest.
Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022.
The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case.
Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened.
Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much".
He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored.
In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said.
A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said.
NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update.
"Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
An Aboriginal community reeling after losing a second young man in a fatal police incident wants funding restored for programs to help youths avoid the criminal justice system.
Widespread anger has been sparked after a 24-year-old mentally disabled man was forced to the floor of an Alice Springs supermarket by two plain-clothes police officers and fell unconscious.
The man - originally from the small desert town of Yuendumu - died about an hour later at Alice Springs Hospital on Tuesday, sparking a police investigation.
The man, who is understood to have been under a guardianship order and on an NDIS plan, allegedly assaulted a security guard who accused him of shoplifting.
Police late on Thursday alleged the man assaulted a woman not known to him in the Alice Springs CBD prior to the Coles incident.
The cause of the man's death was still undetermined, police said.
The Yuendumu community lost a young man in police custody in 2019 when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then NT police officer Zachary Rolfe during a bungled arrest.
Mr Rolfe was found not guilty on all charges over the death in 2022.
The latest death has prompted the Yuendumu community to consider postponing a June 10 visit by Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to announce her findings in the Walker case.
Yuendumu elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the man who died on Tuesday, has called for CCTV and security guard body-worn camera footage to be released to the family so they can understand what happened.
Mr Hargraves told AAP his shattered community was talking about postponing the June 10 coroner's event "because of all these troubles happening right now, it's too much".
He said his community had put forward many solutions to improve relations with the justice system but they had been ignored.
In 2024, Yuendumu was approved under an NT government act to establish a law and justice group and was given a small grant, but the new Country Liberal Party government removed the funding without consultation, he said.
A Yuendumu cultural authority based on traditional decision-making had been set up to be the front door to the community "but sadly our continued requests for resources to develop this authority had been ignored", Mr Hargraves said.
NT Police said they had been in contact with the man's family and visited the Yuendumu community to provide an update.
"Our thoughts are with the deceased's family, our members and the entire Alice Springs community and we thank them for their patience as we work through this investigation," Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said.
13YARN 13 92 76
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
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8 hours ago
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Two-thirds of Britons want Andrew stripped of titles
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The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Young pilots idolised reality TV star, court told
A pilot panicked and lied to air crash investigators after a helicopter accident that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson, a court has been told. Sebastian Robinson, who was left a paraplegic by the February 2022 crash in remote swampland in the Northern Territory, on Tuesday gave evidence in the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege he was worried crash investigators would discover that flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified. Mr Wilson was slung on a line below a chopper during a crocodile-egg collecting mission when he plunged to his death. The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson, who on Tuesday appeared by video link in a wheelchair. Questioned by crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC, the 32-year-old admitted lying to air crash investigators and NT Police about falsifying flight-hour records and disconnecting Hobbs meters. He said he was worried he would be blamed for the crash or that he would lose his pilot's licence. "Obviously I was panicking ... I was scared." Mr Robinson agreed he must have "intentionally disconnected" the sling line from the helicopter and Mr Wilson fell about 25 metres to the ground, as ascertained by air crash investigators. When asked what might have happened in the case of total engine failure if he had not released Mr Wilson, Mr Robinson said it would have been "catastrophic", with the helicopter crash-landing on top of his friend. Mr Robinson gave evidence Wright told his pilots to "pop the clock" on their machines so flight hours would go unrecorded and service checks could be put off. The Outback Wrangler star was looked up to by young pilots who readily followed his orders despite his failure to follow aviation rules, he said. At the time of the crash Mr Robinson was head of aircraft airworthiness and maintenance control for Wright's Helibrook company, but in name only. Wright, the chief pilot, made the decisions about aircraft flying hours and maintenance schedules, he said. Mr Robinson agreed disconnecting Hobbs flight-hour recording meters and falsifying paperwork to match was a "very common" practice at Helibrook, with Wright directing pilots to do so. "He'd say 'pop the clock for this trip'," Mr Robinson said, referring to disconnecting meters. When asked if he and other pilots obeyed Wright's instructions he replied: "Absolutely ... if he said jump I'd say how high". Wright was a major public figure, everyone wanted to work for him and young pilots wanted to please the TV star, Mr Robinson said. Mr Gullaci asked him if he could detail his injuries sustained in the crash. "I can but it obviously it makes me a little bit upset," Mr Robinson replied, saying he could not remember the crash. He listed fractures of his vertebrae resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. "I definitely feel I'm a different person," he told the court. Mr Robinson admitted he had used cocaine about twice a year in the five years before the crash but he had not flown helicopters while intoxicated. "Are you a raging cocaine junkie Mr Robinson? Mr Gullaci asked. "Not at all," Mr Robinson replied. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues. A pilot panicked and lied to air crash investigators after a helicopter accident that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson, a court has been told. Sebastian Robinson, who was left a paraplegic by the February 2022 crash in remote swampland in the Northern Territory, on Tuesday gave evidence in the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege he was worried crash investigators would discover that flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified. Mr Wilson was slung on a line below a chopper during a crocodile-egg collecting mission when he plunged to his death. The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson, who on Tuesday appeared by video link in a wheelchair. Questioned by crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC, the 32-year-old admitted lying to air crash investigators and NT Police about falsifying flight-hour records and disconnecting Hobbs meters. He said he was worried he would be blamed for the crash or that he would lose his pilot's licence. "Obviously I was panicking ... I was scared." Mr Robinson agreed he must have "intentionally disconnected" the sling line from the helicopter and Mr Wilson fell about 25 metres to the ground, as ascertained by air crash investigators. When asked what might have happened in the case of total engine failure if he had not released Mr Wilson, Mr Robinson said it would have been "catastrophic", with the helicopter crash-landing on top of his friend. Mr Robinson gave evidence Wright told his pilots to "pop the clock" on their machines so flight hours would go unrecorded and service checks could be put off. The Outback Wrangler star was looked up to by young pilots who readily followed his orders despite his failure to follow aviation rules, he said. At the time of the crash Mr Robinson was head of aircraft airworthiness and maintenance control for Wright's Helibrook company, but in name only. Wright, the chief pilot, made the decisions about aircraft flying hours and maintenance schedules, he said. Mr Robinson agreed disconnecting Hobbs flight-hour recording meters and falsifying paperwork to match was a "very common" practice at Helibrook, with Wright directing pilots to do so. "He'd say 'pop the clock for this trip'," Mr Robinson said, referring to disconnecting meters. When asked if he and other pilots obeyed Wright's instructions he replied: "Absolutely ... if he said jump I'd say how high". Wright was a major public figure, everyone wanted to work for him and young pilots wanted to please the TV star, Mr Robinson said. Mr Gullaci asked him if he could detail his injuries sustained in the crash. "I can but it obviously it makes me a little bit upset," Mr Robinson replied, saying he could not remember the crash. He listed fractures of his vertebrae resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. "I definitely feel I'm a different person," he told the court. Mr Robinson admitted he had used cocaine about twice a year in the five years before the crash but he had not flown helicopters while intoxicated. "Are you a raging cocaine junkie Mr Robinson? Mr Gullaci asked. "Not at all," Mr Robinson replied. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues. A pilot panicked and lied to air crash investigators after a helicopter accident that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson, a court has been told. Sebastian Robinson, who was left a paraplegic by the February 2022 crash in remote swampland in the Northern Territory, on Tuesday gave evidence in the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege he was worried crash investigators would discover that flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified. Mr Wilson was slung on a line below a chopper during a crocodile-egg collecting mission when he plunged to his death. The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson, who on Tuesday appeared by video link in a wheelchair. Questioned by crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC, the 32-year-old admitted lying to air crash investigators and NT Police about falsifying flight-hour records and disconnecting Hobbs meters. He said he was worried he would be blamed for the crash or that he would lose his pilot's licence. "Obviously I was panicking ... I was scared." Mr Robinson agreed he must have "intentionally disconnected" the sling line from the helicopter and Mr Wilson fell about 25 metres to the ground, as ascertained by air crash investigators. When asked what might have happened in the case of total engine failure if he had not released Mr Wilson, Mr Robinson said it would have been "catastrophic", with the helicopter crash-landing on top of his friend. Mr Robinson gave evidence Wright told his pilots to "pop the clock" on their machines so flight hours would go unrecorded and service checks could be put off. The Outback Wrangler star was looked up to by young pilots who readily followed his orders despite his failure to follow aviation rules, he said. At the time of the crash Mr Robinson was head of aircraft airworthiness and maintenance control for Wright's Helibrook company, but in name only. Wright, the chief pilot, made the decisions about aircraft flying hours and maintenance schedules, he said. Mr Robinson agreed disconnecting Hobbs flight-hour recording meters and falsifying paperwork to match was a "very common" practice at Helibrook, with Wright directing pilots to do so. "He'd say 'pop the clock for this trip'," Mr Robinson said, referring to disconnecting meters. When asked if he and other pilots obeyed Wright's instructions he replied: "Absolutely ... if he said jump I'd say how high". Wright was a major public figure, everyone wanted to work for him and young pilots wanted to please the TV star, Mr Robinson said. Mr Gullaci asked him if he could detail his injuries sustained in the crash. "I can but it obviously it makes me a little bit upset," Mr Robinson replied, saying he could not remember the crash. He listed fractures of his vertebrae resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. "I definitely feel I'm a different person," he told the court. Mr Robinson admitted he had used cocaine about twice a year in the five years before the crash but he had not flown helicopters while intoxicated. "Are you a raging cocaine junkie Mr Robinson? Mr Gullaci asked. "Not at all," Mr Robinson replied. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues. A pilot panicked and lied to air crash investigators after a helicopter accident that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson, a court has been told. Sebastian Robinson, who was left a paraplegic by the February 2022 crash in remote swampland in the Northern Territory, on Tuesday gave evidence in the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege he was worried crash investigators would discover that flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified. Mr Wilson was slung on a line below a chopper during a crocodile-egg collecting mission when he plunged to his death. The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson, who on Tuesday appeared by video link in a wheelchair. Questioned by crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC, the 32-year-old admitted lying to air crash investigators and NT Police about falsifying flight-hour records and disconnecting Hobbs meters. He said he was worried he would be blamed for the crash or that he would lose his pilot's licence. "Obviously I was panicking ... I was scared." Mr Robinson agreed he must have "intentionally disconnected" the sling line from the helicopter and Mr Wilson fell about 25 metres to the ground, as ascertained by air crash investigators. When asked what might have happened in the case of total engine failure if he had not released Mr Wilson, Mr Robinson said it would have been "catastrophic", with the helicopter crash-landing on top of his friend. Mr Robinson gave evidence Wright told his pilots to "pop the clock" on their machines so flight hours would go unrecorded and service checks could be put off. The Outback Wrangler star was looked up to by young pilots who readily followed his orders despite his failure to follow aviation rules, he said. At the time of the crash Mr Robinson was head of aircraft airworthiness and maintenance control for Wright's Helibrook company, but in name only. Wright, the chief pilot, made the decisions about aircraft flying hours and maintenance schedules, he said. Mr Robinson agreed disconnecting Hobbs flight-hour recording meters and falsifying paperwork to match was a "very common" practice at Helibrook, with Wright directing pilots to do so. "He'd say 'pop the clock for this trip'," Mr Robinson said, referring to disconnecting meters. When asked if he and other pilots obeyed Wright's instructions he replied: "Absolutely ... if he said jump I'd say how high". Wright was a major public figure, everyone wanted to work for him and young pilots wanted to please the TV star, Mr Robinson said. Mr Gullaci asked him if he could detail his injuries sustained in the crash. "I can but it obviously it makes me a little bit upset," Mr Robinson replied, saying he could not remember the crash. He listed fractures of his vertebrae resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. "I definitely feel I'm a different person," he told the court. Mr Robinson admitted he had used cocaine about twice a year in the five years before the crash but he had not flown helicopters while intoxicated. "Are you a raging cocaine junkie Mr Robinson? Mr Gullaci asked. "Not at all," Mr Robinson replied. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues.
The Advertiser
18 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Young, conspiracy-drawn teens are potential terrorists
The changing face of terrorism from horrific acts by extremist Islamist groups to radicalised young men under 18 tapping away at their keyboards in regional areas is prompting a review into who is a terrorist. The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor is looking at whether Australia's laws are fit-for-purpose, contain appropriate protections for individual rights, remain proportionate to threats and remain necessary. The Australian definition of a "terrorist act" has not changed since it was enacted in 2002. "Next year will be the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and that's the event that really shaped out understanding of terrorism," monitor Jake Blight told AAP. "When we made this law it was followed by the Bali bombings. These were international organisations that were well-funded and executed mass casualty events." Citing ASIO's most recent threat assessment released in February, Mr Blight said the typical profile of who is a terrorist has markedly shifted. "But now and especially since COVID, it's mostly young people, mostly acting along, they're radicalised online and with basic weapons or not even a really fully fledged plan," he said. "They're mostly Australian-born, they're male, they're minors and they're from families previously unconnected to extremism." The average age of those under investigation for violent extremism was 15. He said less than half the potential terrorist matters investigated by ASIO in 2024 were religiously motivated. Those under investigation were not just confined to major cities but were spread out across rural and remote communities. All involved lone actors or small groups, almost all involved minors and almost all individuals involved were unknown to ASIO or the police. None appeared to be directly inspired by conflict in the Middle East or directed by offshore extremists, the assessment found. More than 300 federal, state and territory laws contain offences, obligations and powers that rely on the 2002 definition, Mr Blight found in a 58-page issues paper. These included many exceptional powers and modifications to longstanding legal principles including keeping suspects in detention after serving their sentences and the ability to strip citizenship. "We need to make sure that our terrorism laws are effective but also consistent with our human rights obligations," he said. Mr Blight also cautioned that defining terrorism was a tricky legal minefield and that public figures needed to be careful in their language. "People use the word terrorism to describe horror or abhorrence, it's kind of a short-hand for the worst crime they can think of but that isn't legally accurate," he explained. "There are many terrible and terrifying crimes that are not terrorism." In January, an abandoned caravan packed with explosives discovered in northwest Sydney contained a list of addresses of Jewish institutions. Police did not officially designate the incident as a terrorist event, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns labelled it a potential terrorist act. Australian Federal Police officials later said the fabricated caravan plot was a criminal con job. The changing face of terrorism from horrific acts by extremist Islamist groups to radicalised young men under 18 tapping away at their keyboards in regional areas is prompting a review into who is a terrorist. The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor is looking at whether Australia's laws are fit-for-purpose, contain appropriate protections for individual rights, remain proportionate to threats and remain necessary. The Australian definition of a "terrorist act" has not changed since it was enacted in 2002. "Next year will be the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and that's the event that really shaped out understanding of terrorism," monitor Jake Blight told AAP. "When we made this law it was followed by the Bali bombings. These were international organisations that were well-funded and executed mass casualty events." Citing ASIO's most recent threat assessment released in February, Mr Blight said the typical profile of who is a terrorist has markedly shifted. "But now and especially since COVID, it's mostly young people, mostly acting along, they're radicalised online and with basic weapons or not even a really fully fledged plan," he said. "They're mostly Australian-born, they're male, they're minors and they're from families previously unconnected to extremism." The average age of those under investigation for violent extremism was 15. He said less than half the potential terrorist matters investigated by ASIO in 2024 were religiously motivated. Those under investigation were not just confined to major cities but were spread out across rural and remote communities. All involved lone actors or small groups, almost all involved minors and almost all individuals involved were unknown to ASIO or the police. None appeared to be directly inspired by conflict in the Middle East or directed by offshore extremists, the assessment found. More than 300 federal, state and territory laws contain offences, obligations and powers that rely on the 2002 definition, Mr Blight found in a 58-page issues paper. These included many exceptional powers and modifications to longstanding legal principles including keeping suspects in detention after serving their sentences and the ability to strip citizenship. "We need to make sure that our terrorism laws are effective but also consistent with our human rights obligations," he said. Mr Blight also cautioned that defining terrorism was a tricky legal minefield and that public figures needed to be careful in their language. "People use the word terrorism to describe horror or abhorrence, it's kind of a short-hand for the worst crime they can think of but that isn't legally accurate," he explained. "There are many terrible and terrifying crimes that are not terrorism." In January, an abandoned caravan packed with explosives discovered in northwest Sydney contained a list of addresses of Jewish institutions. Police did not officially designate the incident as a terrorist event, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns labelled it a potential terrorist act. Australian Federal Police officials later said the fabricated caravan plot was a criminal con job. The changing face of terrorism from horrific acts by extremist Islamist groups to radicalised young men under 18 tapping away at their keyboards in regional areas is prompting a review into who is a terrorist. The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor is looking at whether Australia's laws are fit-for-purpose, contain appropriate protections for individual rights, remain proportionate to threats and remain necessary. The Australian definition of a "terrorist act" has not changed since it was enacted in 2002. "Next year will be the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and that's the event that really shaped out understanding of terrorism," monitor Jake Blight told AAP. "When we made this law it was followed by the Bali bombings. These were international organisations that were well-funded and executed mass casualty events." Citing ASIO's most recent threat assessment released in February, Mr Blight said the typical profile of who is a terrorist has markedly shifted. "But now and especially since COVID, it's mostly young people, mostly acting along, they're radicalised online and with basic weapons or not even a really fully fledged plan," he said. "They're mostly Australian-born, they're male, they're minors and they're from families previously unconnected to extremism." The average age of those under investigation for violent extremism was 15. He said less than half the potential terrorist matters investigated by ASIO in 2024 were religiously motivated. Those under investigation were not just confined to major cities but were spread out across rural and remote communities. All involved lone actors or small groups, almost all involved minors and almost all individuals involved were unknown to ASIO or the police. None appeared to be directly inspired by conflict in the Middle East or directed by offshore extremists, the assessment found. More than 300 federal, state and territory laws contain offences, obligations and powers that rely on the 2002 definition, Mr Blight found in a 58-page issues paper. These included many exceptional powers and modifications to longstanding legal principles including keeping suspects in detention after serving their sentences and the ability to strip citizenship. "We need to make sure that our terrorism laws are effective but also consistent with our human rights obligations," he said. Mr Blight also cautioned that defining terrorism was a tricky legal minefield and that public figures needed to be careful in their language. "People use the word terrorism to describe horror or abhorrence, it's kind of a short-hand for the worst crime they can think of but that isn't legally accurate," he explained. "There are many terrible and terrifying crimes that are not terrorism." In January, an abandoned caravan packed with explosives discovered in northwest Sydney contained a list of addresses of Jewish institutions. Police did not officially designate the incident as a terrorist event, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns labelled it a potential terrorist act. Australian Federal Police officials later said the fabricated caravan plot was a criminal con job. The changing face of terrorism from horrific acts by extremist Islamist groups to radicalised young men under 18 tapping away at their keyboards in regional areas is prompting a review into who is a terrorist. The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor is looking at whether Australia's laws are fit-for-purpose, contain appropriate protections for individual rights, remain proportionate to threats and remain necessary. The Australian definition of a "terrorist act" has not changed since it was enacted in 2002. "Next year will be the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and that's the event that really shaped out understanding of terrorism," monitor Jake Blight told AAP. "When we made this law it was followed by the Bali bombings. These were international organisations that were well-funded and executed mass casualty events." Citing ASIO's most recent threat assessment released in February, Mr Blight said the typical profile of who is a terrorist has markedly shifted. "But now and especially since COVID, it's mostly young people, mostly acting along, they're radicalised online and with basic weapons or not even a really fully fledged plan," he said. "They're mostly Australian-born, they're male, they're minors and they're from families previously unconnected to extremism." The average age of those under investigation for violent extremism was 15. He said less than half the potential terrorist matters investigated by ASIO in 2024 were religiously motivated. Those under investigation were not just confined to major cities but were spread out across rural and remote communities. All involved lone actors or small groups, almost all involved minors and almost all individuals involved were unknown to ASIO or the police. None appeared to be directly inspired by conflict in the Middle East or directed by offshore extremists, the assessment found. More than 300 federal, state and territory laws contain offences, obligations and powers that rely on the 2002 definition, Mr Blight found in a 58-page issues paper. These included many exceptional powers and modifications to longstanding legal principles including keeping suspects in detention after serving their sentences and the ability to strip citizenship. "We need to make sure that our terrorism laws are effective but also consistent with our human rights obligations," he said. Mr Blight also cautioned that defining terrorism was a tricky legal minefield and that public figures needed to be careful in their language. "People use the word terrorism to describe horror or abhorrence, it's kind of a short-hand for the worst crime they can think of but that isn't legally accurate," he explained. "There are many terrible and terrifying crimes that are not terrorism." In January, an abandoned caravan packed with explosives discovered in northwest Sydney contained a list of addresses of Jewish institutions. Police did not officially designate the incident as a terrorist event, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns labelled it a potential terrorist act. Australian Federal Police officials later said the fabricated caravan plot was a criminal con job.
