“Dangerously Wide Net”: Human Rights Watchdog Condemns New NSW Police Bill

A new NSW Parliamentary bill is being condemned by human rights experts for infringing on the privacy of ordinary Australians. The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Organised Crimes Reforms) Bill 2026, introduced by NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley earlier this month, purports to target organised crime, however, civil liberty watchdog The NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) points out it targets law-abiding citizens as well.

Among the omnibus bill’s proposed reforms are a number of unprecedented expansions of police power. If legislated, the bill would grant NSW Police access to personal mobile devices during routine arrests, roadside stops, and other lawful detentions. At the moment, a personal device can only be ordered to be unlocked if it is seized as part of a Search or Crime Scene warrant.  

“We are looking at a future where police can demand your phone passcodes on the beat under threat of seven years in prison,” NSWCCL President Timothy Roberts said, “using controversial forensic software to download your entire digital life including encrypted and deleted content.”

NSW Police Seeking Access To Toll Cameras

The bill would also grant NSW Police access to high-resolution toll cameras that can identify drivers and passengers. This is complemented by the bill’s mandate that millions of drivers licenses be automatically uploaded into a federal facial recognition database. It is now the concern of the NSWCCL that the bill fails to discriminate between criminals and commuters, but rather casts a “dangerously wide net” that treats every citizen as an automated suspect.

“By giving Police unredacted access to our toll networks and ability to face match, the government is effectively building a state-owned version of the ‘Flock’ camera networks used in the United States,” said Roberts. “In the US, such surveillance systems are seeing massive public opposition with reports of the cameras producing incorrect suspects, systemic corruption, and dozens of rogue police officers using the cameras to stalk their wives, and ex-partners. 

“NSW residents are already subjected to an intense level of over-policing. This bill further removes independent judicial oversight, excludes the role of the NSW Surveillance Devices Commissioner, and explicitly overrides privacy protections. We call on the crossbench and the opposition to protect basic civil liberties and block this bill.”