Politician defies Aussie Govt over anti-terror bill

"ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope says he will not comply with instructions from the Commonwealth insisting he remove draft counter-terrorism legislation from his website.

"He posted the documents on his website yesterday, because he says the public has the right to know about how the far-reaching laws will impact on civil liberties of Australian citizens

"'As far as I'm concerned, any one of the jurisdictions who's participating in the development of this legislation has a right to consult in the way that they feel appropriate,' he said.

"'It may be that Philip Ruddock and John Howard don't want to consult on this legislation, they don't want the views of many Australians, they want to rush it through, they want to do it in secrecy, but I don't.'

"A spokesman for the Attorney-General says the Federal Government acted in good faith in providing the draft documents to the state and territory leaders for their input.

"He says it is disappointing Mr Stanhope has made the documents public, when they are clearly marked as confidential.

"Mr Stanhope says he hopes posting draft counter-terrorism laws on his website will open community debate about the issue.

"'This is fundamentally important legislation, this goes to the rights of every Australian and I think it is bizarre in the very extreme to think that legislation of this significance can be rushed into Parliament without consulting a single Australian,' he said.

"Indecent haste"

"The Law Council of Australia says the Government has acted with indecent haste to try to push through anti-terror laws that will affect each and every Australian.

"With the bills set to go before Parliament in a fortnight, the Opposition and minor parties are angry a Senate inquiry will be given just one day to consider their content.

"The Law Council's president, John North, has told AM the laws seem to ignore the fundamental right to remain free unless a person is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence.

"'It looks as if the Government is going to be able to lock people up in times of fear such as if they're having a heads of government meeting or an Olympic Games and if they think that there's going to be trouble, well they can pull people off the street and hold them under these orders,' he said.

"Mr North says the suggestion that under the legislation that police will be able to use lethal force when arresting someone is just one of the proposals the Law Council is concerned about.

"'It differs in that police under today's law can only use lethal force if they are directly themselves threatened or they have to save someone,' he said.

"'Under this, there seems to be enough room to manoeuvre and it seems to be directly pointed at the London situation where the person was shot.'
ABC

Draft Anti-Terrorism Legislation :: [ Download - PDF, 331KB ]

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Human rights advocates and Opposition senators have reacted angrily to government efforts to push anti-terror legislation through the Senate.
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The Law Council has reacted angrily to the draft anti-terror laws which were released for the first time yesterday. ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope posted the proposed laws on his website even though they were given to him in confidence by the Federal Government.
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Draconian new "anti-terror" laws

How Howard plans to steal Australians' civil rights

"New sedition offences will put big constraints on anti-war protests, familiar since the Vietnam era, and come down hard on those advocating violence against any religious, national or political group.

"Those charged with sedition can argue they were acting 'in good faith' but it is unclear how the courts will interpret this.

"The bill sets out new federal police powers to detain terrorist suspects for up to 24 hours, and up to 48 hours with the approval of a judge or magistrate. Suspects will get access to a lawyer to challenge the detention order in a court or complain of maltreatment

"Police do not need to give suspects or their lawyers reasons for the detentions and can monitor lawyers. All conversations lawyers have with their clients must be in English or translated into English for the police. Police are prohibited from questioning the detainees but that ban does not apply to ASIO officers.

"Last month the states agreed to allow extensions of up to 14 days for detentions when a terrorist act is believed imminent. The suspect must then be released if no terrorist act occurs.

"Detentions are secret but suspects are allowed to contact a family member or employers to say they are safe but, 'not able to be contacted for the time being'. If they disclose the detention they can be jailed for up to five years.

"Under the bill, the Government can apply to a court for control orders on terrorist suspects who have not been charged. These orders include house arrest, preventing them using the telephone or internet and restricting their social contacts and work opportunities. Suspects can also be fitted with tracking devices.

"The suspect's lawyer can be shown the control order but not necessarily the evidence or reasons behind it.

"The orders can last up to 12 months and can then be renewed any number of times.

"Persons under control orders may be given 'counselling or education' if they agree.

"The bill does limit to three months control orders on those aged between 16 and 18.

"Also contained in the legislation are wide-ranging search powers that will compel the production of any documents relating to 'any serious offence', regardless of any laws protecting privacy or legal privilege ...

"Sweeping new anti-terror laws include a plan to jail people for up to seven years for promoting feelings of 'ill will' or hostility between different groups that would threaten the peace."
Global Research

Human Rights Watch slams Australian anti-terror controls
"'Putting people under house arrest for a year by a control order is tantamount to jailing people without trial,' said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"'This is a shocking departure from Australia’s proud tradition of protecting individuals from an overly powerful state,' Adams said."
INQ7.net

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Tagged: australia, human+rights, civil+rights, liberty, disinformation, terrorism, police+state