New legislation, authorising Western Australian police officers to use lethal force when responding to a terrorism incident will be introduced into State Parliament today.
The Terrorism (Extraordinary Powers) Amendment Bill 2018 gives police clear legal protections if they are required to use pre-emptive force when responding to a terrorism incident or suspected terrorist act.
The special powers are being introduced in response to findings from the New South Wales Coronial Inquest into the Lindt Café siege.
National, State and Territory leaders agreed to a package of counter terrorism reforms at a Special Council of Australian Governments meeting in October last year.
Under the new powers, the Commissioner of Police would first have to declare that the incident officers are responding to is terrorism related.
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