Australia: Leaked “Anti-Terrorism” Bill details draconian plans

[McKenzie]

<snip1>

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 combatting terrorism, the legislation will introduce unprecedented and draconian police and intelligence powers.

</snip1>

<snip2>

The Attorney-General (currently Philip Ruddock) can use this power to unilaterally ban any group as a “terrorist organization,” thus exposing all its members, supporters and financial donors to years of imprisonment. The provision can extend to outlawing political parties and publications that express any sympathy for, or even call for an understanding of, the causes of terrorist actions.

Secondly, the Bill dramatically expands the scope of sedition, and more than doubles the punishment, from three to seven years imprisonment. Sedition will include “urging disaffection” against the Constitution, the government or either house of parliament. Previously, the law referred to “exciting disaffection,” which indicates active agitation, rather than political argument.

</snip2>

http://www.asiantribune.com/show_article.php?id=2784

Governments enact legislation for specific purposes...why does the Australian government consider that such legislation might be necessary? What sort of future event are they thinking about that might provoke outrage and subsequent protests? (I think I can guess) This is not a good sign.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Wouldn't "urging disaffection" against the Constitution include

advocating the abolition of the monarchy, which is already extremely popular in Australia? They only just voted against it in the referendum.

[McKenzie]

2. now that's an interesting possibilty...

hmmm...the mind boggles at what the response to that might be.

Come to think of it The Sun would have a field day.

[Metta]

3. I wonder what Bush is giving them.? They're hardly a target or so it seems

to me. Unless there's something I haven't noticed. Yes, it's very scary, living in the US these days.

[carolinalady]

4. didn't they support us in the aggression? That alone makes them

a target. The scary part to me is the outlawing of political groups or parties. I hope we take back either the House or Senate in 2006.

[Metta]

5. That's a good point though

I still haven't heard a convincing justification for curtailing civil liberties as a means of making the country safer. That's a cynical lie they want to use to cover their agenda of making this more of a police state. Very much like the '20s movie Metropolis or worse.

Just like Hitler's big lie. Dark times.