Countering terrorism is an increasingly transnational activity, with cooperation in intelligence and security, the proliferation of international laws on countering terrorism, the development of regional and sectoral organisations involved in counter terrorism, and the continued penetration of domestic law and policy by transnationally-determined priorities and approaches.

As a major intelligence actor, but not a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Australia is both a norm entrepreneur and a recipient of international norms. Australia’s domestic counter-terrorism law framework has also been influenced by approaches to countering terrorism in other countries. This raises questions of the rule of law and accountability in at least two dimensions: first, how does and can Australia foster a rule of law-based approach to countering terrorism in its international and transnational activity, and secondly what challenges does the reception of transnational counter-terrorism in Australia pose to the rule of law and accountability ‘at home’.

This workshop aims to explore these questions, and hopes to attract participants from multiple disciplines (including but not limited to law, international relations, and security studies) and from different professional backgrounds (including but not limited to academia, civil society, government, and industry).