Australia and Barbados introduce new counter-terrorism legislation

Governments in Australia and Barbados have introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening counter-terrorism and domestic security frameworks.

In Australia, the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 has been tabled in the House of Representatives. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated the bill seeks to ensure law enforcement tools remain effective against “evolving threats.” The legislation proposes extending critical counter-terrorism powers for three years and reforming control order and post-sentence order frameworks to better manage serious offenders.

In Barbados, Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams introduced the Domestic Terrorism Bill 2026. The bill targets individuals committing violent acts in public spaces that cause widespread panic. The legislation introduces new offences for criminal conduct committed with reckless disregard for public safety, bias-motivated actions, or dangerous firearm activities. The move follows previous violent incidents in Bridgetown and Christ Church.