Australian spies get licence to shoot on missions

Australian Secret Intelligence Service agents will be able to shoot enemies who pose a threat to hostages in undercover missions abroad.

Australian spies will be able to shoot enemies posing a risk to innocent bystanders or hostages during covert missions overseas.

Australian Secret Intelligence Service officers will be able to use "reasonable force" to protect other people while working abroad, under legislation which passed parliament on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said current arrangements led to absurd situations like spies not being able to use weapons to defend innocent people threatened by a terrorist or kidnapper, even if it was happening in front of them.

ASIS is seeking to expand its powers. Source: ASIS

"As the world has become more complex it's clear that the legislation that governs ASIS operations also needs to evolve," Senator Payne told the upper house.

"Changes to Australia's national security requires ASIS to operate in hazardous circumstances overseas, especially when operating against terrorists, violent extremists and other threats."

Australian Secret Intelligence Service officers will be able to use "reasonable force". Source: AP

But ASIS officers won't have free rein, with the final approval for the use of the new powers resting with the foreign minister.

Greens senator Nick McKim said the legislation joined many other laws passed in the past 20 years which eroded fundamental rights, freedoms and liberties in this place.

"This is mission creep," he said.

The last expansion to ASIS powers occurred in 2004, in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks three years earlier.