Statement re: Police Administration Bill

The Commissioner has released a statement in regards to the Police Administration Bill.

Protected attributes in jeopardy with prospective new police powers

The Anti-Discrimination Commissioner finds the proposed Police Administration Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill) an affront to the rule of law as it promotes arbitrary use of power and has the effect of suspending the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (ADA).

The Bill proposes to specifically curtail the application of the ADA, meaning that the Police Commissioner will not need to consider, nor be bound, by the ADA when making a public disorder declaration or acting under that declaration. This has the very real possibility of profiling and targeting groups or people that the ADA is explicitly designed to protect.

The power which will be permitted under this Bill is not in line with the spirit of the positive duty to eliminate discrimination to the greatest extent possible.

The ADC echoes the comments of the Children’s Commissioner that these laws need to be balanced and proportionate and that the NT Government must consult key stakeholders including legal aid services, peak bodies and relevant oversight bodies.

The full statement can be found here