9 February 2011

Greens want a harder look at the terror laws

| johnboy
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The Greens’ Shane Rattenbury is calling for a review of the terror laws before they get extended for another five years:

“The Government have foreshadowed they will roll the ACTs Counter Terrorism Act over for another five years. The best way the Government can justify a roll over is to publish a full human rights compatibility statement which contains the reasons why the laws are needed in 2011 and beyond”, Shane Rattenbury said.

“The Counter Terrorism Act allows for police to detain someone without charge and to prevent them from contacting family and friends while locked up. These are invasive powers and we must guard against the situation where we accept, without question, that they are a permanent fixture in Australian society.

”I’ve written to the Attorney setting out what we think the analysis needs to cover and I’m hopeful we will see the work released during the year.

“The analysis we have asked for is critical to the ongoing task of making sure our terror laws are proportionate to the risk.

“There are eight months before the Bill needs to be passed by the Assembly which is more than enough time to get the work done and have it released”, Shane Rattenbury said.

Has the absence of terror attacks in Canberra been due to the protection of these laws? Or does it show they’re worthless?

Either way, it’s well worth having a look.

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JustThinking1:58 pm 13 Feb 11

Pommy bastard said :

I sure would feel safer if the Greenies were in charge of anti-terrorism laws, yes indeedy. They could set up a multicultural, holistic, gender neutral, non-discriminatory council with equal representation for all people regardless of gender, age, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or spirituality, with a vegan halal cafe attached and a creche, and organise a a non-competitive shareball experience day for anyone who feels they may have terrorist inclinations, with reiki counseling for anyone who finds the concept of terror frightening.

So you mean the Greens are no more than a 2011 Hippy movement?
hehehehehe

Pommy bastard9:18 am 13 Feb 11

I sure would feel safer if the Greenies were in charge of anti-terrorism laws, yes indeedy. They could set up a multicultural, holistic, gender neutral, non-discriminatory council with equal representation for all people regardless of gender, age, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or spirituality, with a vegan halal cafe attached and a creche, and organise a a non-competitive shareball experience day for anyone who feels they may have terrorist inclinations, with reiki counseling for anyone who finds the concept of terror frightening.

I would feel just as safe if you took the entire budget for this area and stuck it up my bottom. If they want it to happen, eventually they will make it happen. I don’t think I will get wasted just yet. I actually felt more at risk when costello wanted the job.

Mental Health Worker said :

Man sees other man scattering powder around their suburb.
“What’s that?”
“Elephant repellant powder”.
“There are no elephants around here”.
“Works great, doesn’t it?

The Simpson’s Bear Patrol comes to mind, in particular Lisa’s anti-bear rock.

aronde said :

Have these laws even been utilised in the past five years??

Im fairly sure Ive heard of a couple of people being charged under these laws for making false threats. Nothing that wasnt already covered previously by crimes and mental health laws. The threat of use of their powers against suspects though, would be a whole other question (“admit to this racial assault or we’ll charge you as a terrorist, we can do it, we’re the police”).

Have these laws even been utilised in the past five years??

Has the absence of terror attacks in Canberra been due to the protection of these laws? Or does it show they’re worthless?
Or maybe the terrorists know Canberra isn’t worth attacking.

Mental Health Worker9:33 pm 11 Feb 11

Wot, no comments yet?

I always remember the jke:

Man sees other man scattering powder around their suburb.
“What’s that?”
“Elephant repellant powder”.
“There are no elephants around here”.
“Works great, doesn’t it?

The ACT’s tough anti-terrorism laws have frightened away all the suicide bombers who would otherwise have targeted the national capital, and they are instead targeting uninhabited areas of bush.

Here endeth the lesson.

MHW

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