THE Law Association has expressed conditional support for the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operation) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill 2026, while warning that the legislation, as drafted, requires tighter safeguards to prevent undue erosion of constitutional rights.

In its comment issued as the bill was being debated in the Senate, the association said it supported legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening public order and citizen security, but stressed that the proposed law must remain “reasonably justifiable in a society that has a proper respect for the rights and freedoms of the individual.”

The association noted that the bill is expressly designed to operate notwithstanding sections 4 and 5 of the Constitution, meaning it contemplates passage with a special majority. As a result, it said the exceptional nature of the legislation must be matched by exceptional safeguards, including strict time limits, clear definitions, judicial oversight, and robust reporting and review mechanisms.