WA anti-terrorism laws to be strengthened

Police will be able to raid cars, boats and planes with covert warrants under proposed changes to Western Australia's anti-terrorism laws.

Currently, covert warrants can only be applied to a specific property or location.

But legislation has been introduced to state parliament to extend the current act, which was due to expire at the end of the year, and strengthen police powers to target terrorist activity.

Police Minister Liza Harvey said the changes would allow the police commissioner to quickly access necessary powers to respond to home-grown terrorism.

Membership of a terrorist organisation and suspicion of advocating terrorism would also be included in the bill as grounds to apply for a covert search warrant, she said.