Howard Goverment and it's Anti-Terrorism Bill.

Article Here.

A leaked copy of an “in-confidence” draft of the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005 has confirmed the police-state character of the measures being drawn up by the federal Howard government, with support from the Australian state and territory chief ministers. Under the guise of combating terrorism, the legislation will introduce unprecedented and draconian police and intelligence powers.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chief Minister Jon Stanhope posted the document on his official web site last Friday, provoking furious denunciations by Prime Minister John Howard and other ministers, who had planned to keep the legislation under wraps until November 1. Their intention was to push it through both houses of parliament in just two weeks, without any serious debate by MPs, let alone genuine public scrutiny and discussion.

First and foremost, the legislation provides for extensive detention without charge or trial, on the flimsiest of pretexts. With no notice or legal hearing, any person can be thrown into secret “preventative detention” or placed, by a “control order,” in isolation under house arrest.

In order to evade the Constitution, which bars the federal government from imposing “punishment” on Australian citizens without trial, preventative detention by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) will be limited to 48 hours, but the states and territories have agreed to extend this to 14 days for their respective police forces.

All conversations, including with their lawyer, are monitored, violating the principle of lawyer-client confidentiality. “Prohibited contact orders” can also prohibit contact with their own lawyer, and the police can prevent them from speaking to any lawyer who does not have an ASIO security clearance.

Shoot to Kill.
from Yahoo News.
The shoot-to-kill prevision was revealed in confidential draft legislation leaked Friday to the annoyance of Prime Minister John Howard, who insisted the laws should be implemented quickly in the interest of national security.

Law Council of Australia president John North said the government was attempting to prevent the legal fallout experienced by British anti-terrorism police who shot dead Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in a London subway station last July after mistaking him for a suicide bomber.

There is controversy over whether de Menezes was given a chance to surrender before being shot seven times in the head as officers held him down, leading to reports the commander of the British operation could be charged with manslaughter.

Sedition.
The draft legislation leaked by Stanhope includes seven-year jail terms for sedition, described as "promoting feelings of ill-will or hostility between groups" that threaten public order or "urging a person to assist the enemy".

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The Government plans to introduce the anti-terrorism laws on Melbourne Cup day, and when a Government feels the need to try and pass legislation at times such as Melbourne Cup Day (or as in the case of the States massive MP pay increases a couple of years ago where it was passed a Midnight Christmas eve), you know, all they're doing is trying to avoid scrutiny of the legislation.

The very least the Government should do is have open and honest debate about the current crop of restrictions. If we need the new laws so much, then why try to pass them in such a cynical and underhanded manner?


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