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CANBERRA - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has defended Australia's anti-terrorism laws which allowed a Gold Coast doctor to be detained for 12 days before being charged.
Indian national Dr Mohamed Haneef was charged yesterday with supporting terrorism and is being held until at least Monday while a Brisbane magistrate decides whether to grant him bail.
Mr Downer said he was a "great believer" in individual freedom but it had to be balanced against national security.
"We do have tough laws," he told ABC television today.
"Depriving people of freedom is always a worry but on the other hand we have to have tough laws if we are going to stop terrorism.
"The fact is, these laws are essential if we are going to deal with these problems."
Mr Downer also distanced the government from the decision to charge Haneef with recklessly supporting terrorism for allegedly allowing his mobile phone SIM card to be used by two terror suspects in Britain.
The UK terrorist suspects are being held in connection with three failed car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow on June 29 and 30.
Mr Downer said the federal government had passed the anti-terrorism laws and supported Australia's law enforcement agencies, but was not directing the agencies.
"This is a matter for the law enforcement authorities, not government," he said.
- AAP
