A long-awaited review into Australian counter-terrorism laws introduced after the London bombings is finally going ahead.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said today a committee led by retired NSW judge Anthony Whealy, QC, would report back to the Council of Australian Governments within six months.
The review will look at federal and state counter-terrorism legislation that was introduced after the London terror attacks in 2005.
The review was due to start in 2010.
The head of the Attorney-General's department, Roger Wilkins, told a senate committee last October the review had ''drifted'' due to concerns about how it would interact with other government reviews.
''I think there was some concern about how it would interact with the appointment of [the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, Bret Walker] that is setting up for terrorism legislation. So it has drifted,'' he said.
''We are all ready and set to go. I think it is just a question of when appointments, etc will be settled.''
The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, set up in 2010, also reviews Commonwealth counter-terrorism and national security laws.
The COAG review will look at control orders, preventative detention and ''certain emergency stop, question and search powers held by police''.
In a statement, Ms Gillard said that terrorism was an ever-present threat.
''The review of our laws is important to ensure that our laws remain necessary and provide effective powers for our police and security agencies,'' she said.
