Growing opposition to terror laws

by Marcus Browning

Growing opposition to the Government's draconian terror laws, even within 
the ranks of the Government and Liberal Party, is heightening public 
awareness of the nature of the laws. The seven bills which make up the 
legislation are currently before the Senate, having been passed in the 
government-controlled House of Representatives.

It was therefore a fortuitous stunt to last week have an RAAF jet streak 
across the Sydney sky tailing a US military aircraft, panicking onlookers 
in the city centre. Later at a press conference, Air Commander Graham 
Bentley said that "the air force offers a full apology to anyone who may 
have felt threatened by this activity."

Fear and loathing is a necessary part of forcing public acceptance of war. 
As one caller to a radio station put it, "I can feel myself shaking just 
talking about it [the attacks on the US]."

Ironically, the scare tactic actually contravened the Criminal Code 
Amendment (Anti-Hoax and Other Measures) Bill of the proposed legislation, 
which, in the Government's words, is to "ensure that those who create 
public fear and alarm by sending hoax material or dangerous substances are 
properly penalised."

Meanwhile, in Federal Parliament that same day, Attorney-General Daryl 
Williams was fearmongering in the wake of the Sydney flyover. "Australians 
can no longer sit back and assume that we are safe from such devastating 
events."

Liberal backbenchers had earlier on rejected certain aspects of the 
proposed legislation. The ALP has sat on their hands thus far, keeping 
their amendments secret for an expected trade-off to allow the legislation 
to pass.

The bills now before the Senate are:

* The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment 
(Terrorism) Bill;

* The Security Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Bill;

* The Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism Bill;

* The Criminal Code Amendment (Suppression of Terrorist Bombings) Bill;

* The Criminal Code Amendment (Anti-Hoax and other Measures) Bill;

* Border Security Legislation Amendment Bill;

* Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Bill.

If passed the Government would be given wide powers to outlaw organisations 
ranging from political parties to aid organisations and charities. ASIO 
would have broad powers of arrest, including holding individuals in custody 
for 48 hours without access to legal advice, family or friends.

Those who refuse to answer questions face a five-year sentence. These laws 
would apply not only to those suspected of terrorism but anyone suspected 
of having any information.

Authorities would have unhindered means of surveillance, to tap phones and 
personal computers and would have access to the financial information of 
organisations and individuals.

The legislation is based on the bogus premise that we are all under 
imminent threat by unnamed and unknown terrorists. But it is nothing less 
than a vicious attack on all our fundamental rights and freedoms.

Union, church, human rights groups, environment, student and community 
organisations have come together to oppose the laws. They point out that 
existing criminal law and processes should be used to investigate and 
prosecute terrorism.

They include the ACTU, Liberty Victoria, Law Institute Victoria, Victorian 
Council of Social Services, National Union of Students, Friends of the 
Earth, Federation of Community Legal Services, Amnesty International and 
the Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace.