Australian anti-terror laws revised

CANBERRA, Australia, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Australian Attorney General Robert McClelland has made some changes to anti-terrorism laws, including capping the time suspects can be held without charge.

Setting a maximum period of detention at nine days softens laws passed under the previous administration, The Australian reported.

McClelland said police may now conduct searches without a warrant if they believe bombs, biological agents or other items posing an imminent danger are on the premises. The period during which police can re-enter premises in emergency situations was extended from 30 minutes to 12 hours.

The attorney general did not criticize the administration of former Prime Minister John Howard. He said the law needed revision.

"The previous legislation was introduced expeditiously as the circumstances required as an immediate response to the event of September 11 and the Bali bomb attacks," he said. "The government was required to act and acted expeditiously."