Fund communities, not the agencies that failed to anticipate the Christchurch shooting | Faisal Al-Asaad

History shows that granting further powers to state bodies generally hurts minorities more than others

Last year's report into the Christchurch mosque attacks was met with scepticism and disappointment from many in the Muslim community, and understandably so. Among its findings, one in particular stands out. Regarding the ability of police and Security and Intelligence Services (SIS) to anticipate the perpetrator's planning of the attack, the report said: there was no plausible way he could have been detected except by chance".

Despite also concluding that these same agencies have been characterised by systemic failure, it suggested giving them greater powers and resources. The government has also embraced the treatment of white supremacy as a form of violent extremism" and Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) policies as an antidote. But overseas examples and our own history - including instances where we've seen them target specific communities such as Mori and environmental activists as well as refugees and asylum seekers - show us that these are the wrong strategies because they actually end up hurting the communities they purport to protect.