Media alert – Defining Terrorism: Public Hearing Livestream

The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM), Jake Blight, will hold a public hearing on 10 and 11 March as part of an independent review of the legal definition of a ‘terrorist act’. The hearing program is available on the INSLM website.

The review is considering the operation, effectiveness and implications of the current definition of a ‘terrorist act’ and whether any changes may be needed to ensure the definition remains fit-for-purpose in a changing terrorism landscape.

Witnesses at the 10-11 March public hearing will include: a survivor of the Lindt café siege, the Director-General of Security, an AFP Deputy Chief Commissioner, the Special Envoys for Combatting Antisemitism and Islamophobia, the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-terrorism and Human Rights, as well as representatives from the Law Council of Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission, civil liberty and faith-based organisations and academic experts. 

Public Hearings:

DATE: Tuesday 10 March and Wednesday 11 March 2026.

LIVESTREAM: Watch Day One and Day Two live from 9am.

A transcript of the public hearing will be made available on the INSLM website in due course. 

The inquiry has received more than 70 submissions.

The INSLM released an Issues Paper in August 2025 to provide information on the current definition and the key issues being considered in the review. 

For all media enquiries contact: inslm@inslm.gov.au.

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