[Australian] PM outlines tougher anti-terrorism laws

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PM outlines tougher anti-terrorism laws

Prime Minister John Howard has announced major changes to strengthen the nation's counter-terrorism laws, including the use of tracking devices to monitor the movements of terrorism suspects. Under the new measures, the Australian Federal Police will be able to seek court orders placing strict conditions on people considered a terrorist risk.

Mr Howard says the orders would be similar to apprehended violence orders but would allow stricter conditions, including tracking devices, and restrictions on where the suspects can travel and who they can associate with. The orders would be issued for periods of 12 months.

There will also be new laws against inciting violence in the community and against Australian forces overseas. The waiting period for citizenship will be extended from two to three years and can be refused on security grounds.

There will be new offences for leaving baggage unattended at major transport hubs and the Government will legislate to allow officials to stop and search suspects. Inciting terrorist attacks would be an offence, while laws for financing terrorism would also be overhauled.

The Prime Minister will meet the premiers and chief ministers this month and will ask the states to implement laws allowing terrorism suspects to be held for up to 14 days.

More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1455995.htm


Civil liberties, Muslim leaders slam anti-terrorism laws

... Anjad Mehboob, chief executive of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, believes it is a step backwards for Australia and the Muslim community. Mr Mehboob thinks some Muslims already believe they are treated unfairly and says the result will be more police checks on Muslim people. "When we know already that it's the young Muslim youth who are the subject of a lot of this attention and targeting and undoubtedly where random checks are being made that they would be the ones to cop it," he said.

The president of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties, Terry O'Gorman, has accused the Government of trying to score political points. "We say that this is the Government, particularly the Prime Minister, making proposals simply for the sake of being seen to do something," he said. "It's a political move and we say it's not justified."

Anti-terror laws raise 'police state' concerns

... The Law Council of Australia has called the proposed new terrorism laws un-Australian. Spokesman president John North says the Federal Government is reacting to a climate of fear. "These laws will probably allow large numbers of Australians to be held for large periods of time and investigated, and we would like to see what basis they have for making changes to our long-held criminal law," he said.

Civil libertarian Terry O'Gorman says he has grave concerns about the new laws. "These body of law changes will give unprecedented power to the intelligence services and to the Australian Federal Police and it pushes us rapidly down the path of becoming a police state," he said.
"Because nowhere in any of these proposals is there any sort of mechanism that will be set up to ensure that these powers aren't abused."

More : http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1456486.htm