Hours before Independent senators voted against it, Attorney General John Jeremie defended the Zones of Special Operations Bill, insisting yesterday that its legal safeguards were proportionate and necessary to deal with the country’s escalating gang violence.

He made the comments during the debate of the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill, 2026, in the Senate, responding to concerns raised by Opposition senators about potential abuses of power and the protection of civil liberties.

He pointed first to limits on how long an area can be designated as a zone of special operations.