Minor questioning warrants in Australia

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation ('ASIO') has told a parliamentary inquiry that the federal government ought to scrap laws which allow intelligence officers to request warrants to question children aged 14 to 18 during terrorism investigations.

ASIO's Director-General Mike Burgess stated that it would be 'appropriate' to repeal the expanded powers in the current security climate, as only a handful of minors have been charged with terror offences since 9/11.

The laws under review essentially allow ASIO to seek a warrant to compel an individual to attend questioning and can apply to those as young as 14 years old.

Burgess noted: "The radicalisation of our youth remains deeply concerning and ASIO will respond when we know there is a direct terrorism threat to Australia.