Government Rolls Back Anti-Terror Recommendations

WILL IRVINE (HE/HIM)

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Last week, Justice Minister Judith Collins announced that the Government would not proceed with the remaining recommendations furnished by the report into the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks. Whilst many of the recommendations have already been fulfilled, largely under the last government, the news signals the frightening prospect that the Government’s austerity policies extend as far as counterterrorism.

Amongst the eight recommendations no longer being pursued by the Government are the development of a new national intelligence agency, the development of an advisory group on counter-terrorism, and the introduction of new hate speech and objectionable content laws that specifically target white supremacy and racial disharmony.

Salient spoke to counterterrorism and white supremacy researcher Hillary (name changed for safety).

“The recommendations they’re cutting are the ones that cost money. It just sends the message that they don’t care about violence towards marginalised communities.”

She stressed the importance of following through with the measures as a means of signalling that the fight against white supremacist hate is not being given up.

Hillary pointed to Recommendation 12, which establishes an intermediary non-Police actor to allow people to report suspicious behaviour without Police involvement. “People feel bad reporting on someone close to them, so it’s important to have this as an intermediary group... It’s extremely useful in community defence against terrorism.”