Concerned lawyers yesterday warned again that tight controls needed to be imposed to prevent misuse of the powers.
Brisbane criminal lawyer Jim Coburn said the process would need to be very carefully overseen by the Public Interest Monitor.
Mr Coburn said the tapping powers available to the police and the Crime and Misconduct Commission would also impact on how criminal defence cases could be run in future.
"If the police are presenting taped conversations or intercepted emails as evidence, then obviously we would need to vigorously investigate whether the tapes or emails were genuine or had been edited or tampered with in any way," Mr Coburn said.
"It's going to complicate trials and maybe make some of them longer."
The new laws give police and the CMC the power to intercept any data capable of being transmitted across a telecommunication service including mobile calls, land lines and emails.
Police Minister Judy Spence said other states already had the powers.
source:http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,24263233-5014239,00.html