Media Release: 16-11-2007: Democrats demand full Inquiry into anti-terror laws

Bring Back Balance

ACT Democrats 2007

Media Release 16 November 2007

Democrats demand full Inquiry into anti-terror laws

“A full and wide ranging inquiry is needed into Australia’s anti-terror laws!” insists Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.

Inquiries have been announced by both the Inspector-General of Intelligence & Security, Ian Carnell and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty.

Mr Churchill said, “That’s not enough. It’s far too simplistic to assume that public confidence can be restored in our Federal police and Intelligence agencies by internal watchdog inquiries”

“There’s far too much power been given to our enforcement agencies under the government’s anti-terror laws. The courts have recognised the risk to basic human rights under the laws. At the very least, we need a Senate Select Inquiry to investigate the matter and redress the balance. The Ul-Haque and Haneef cases clearly show there are major problems”

“These intrusive and unfair laws were passed by the collusion of both Liberal and Labor. Only the Democrats have consistently questioned the lack of accountability under the laws.”

“I’ve often stated that our Parliament, courts and security agencies need to be accountable. That our freedoms are precious and need to be protected, not given away through legislation that seeks to control the very people it is supposed to protect. It is society at it’s worst when poor decisions in relation to our laws fail to uphold the very freedoms they claim to protect” stated a deeply concerned Mr Churchill

As recently as Tuesday, Mr Churchill had called for a review of the anti-terror laws, in the light of the Ul-Haque decision by Judge Michael Adams.

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

0412 196 473

Tags: Human Rights, Media Releases, Privacy Issues