Australian parliament passes tough new terror laws

Australian MPs passed a number of tough new counter-terror laws today that opponents warned would sweep away civil liberties.

The laws let police and intelligence agencies detain terror suspects without charge for up to 14 days and control their movements – including fitting them with electronic tags – for a year.

The package also gives police tougher powers to stop, search and seize evidence from suspects and clears the way for more closed circuit television cameras.

Prime Minister John Howard introduced the package in the aftermath of the deadly July London bombings.