AUSTRALIAN spies overseas would be licensed to kill under a proposal by Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer.

The laws would give Australian Secret Intelligence Service officers the capacity to defend themselves and to launch attacks with the Australian Defence Force and police stationed overseas.
ASIS officers are currently prohibited by law from carrying weapons or planning or taking part in paramilitary activities.

"This is not to become 007-type of agents, but at least to use weapons in self-defence," Mr Downer said yesterday.

Is it just me, or is anybody else picturing Mad Max in Paris here?