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Anti-terrorism laws - links update #10


Key national anti-terrorism body 'not activated'

ABC Online November 3, 2005. 9:41am (AEDT)
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope says a key national counter-terrorism body was not informed of the latest terrorism threat. - http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1496633.htm

True test is just around the corner
The Age, November 3, 2005, By MICHELLE GRATTAN
ONE test of the need to rush a minor change to the nation's anti-terrorism laws through Parliament today will come almost immediately. This week the Government has received specific information of a terrorist threat to Australia. The PM says passage of the amendment will strengthen agencies' capacity to respond. If authorities require this instant legal finetuning, they'll presumably act at once. Logically, we should see arrests over the next few days. - http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/11/02/1130823280998.html

Ruddock reticent over new terrorist threat information Lateline,  02/11/2005
TONY JONES: Can you explain why a new specific intelligence of a potential terrorist threat does not raise the threat level in Australia?
PHILIP RUDDOCK: Well, we get advice from competent agencies and it has to be specific. In other words, you have to have identified the particular threat and be able to be in the process of dealing with it and they don't believe it has reached that point at this time.
TONY JONES: It is specific intelligence, though, is it not? That's how it was described in the press conference.
PHILIP RUDDOCK: Yes, it is specific intelligence, but in relation to a specific act, all I'm saying is, that's what you would need to change the threat level. We'll get advice on that from competent agencies. If we get advice, we'll deal with that then.
TONY JONES: So there's no specific act that you know about about to be perpetrated?
PHILIP RUDDOCK: What I am saying is I've received no advice that it should change.
TONY JONES: Is it because you're dealing with an individual who doesn't pose an immediate threat?
PHILIP RUDDOCK: Tony, I'm not going to elaborate in relation to matters that I have been briefed on. It wouldn't be appropriate. I know it would be good for the program, but in terms of what we are dealing with, all of the advice is that we have put in the public arena is appropriate, but anything further would be distinctly unhelpful in operational terms.
TONY JONES: One conclusion, though, we could draw is we shouldn't be taking this potential threat particularly seriously at the moment? ... - http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2005/s1496513.htm

Intelligence analysts speculate about nature of new threat
Lateline, 02/11/2005
TONY JONES: So just who - or what - has prompted the Government to make today's urgent changes to the anti-terror laws? With little information about the exact nature of the threat, intelligence analysts have been forced to speculate about the danger facing the public. Shortly, we'll get more details from the Attorney-General, but first here's Tom Iggulden.
TOM IGGULDEN: With little to go on officially, those analysing the Government's announcement have been forced to read between the lines. When former senior defence adviser Aldo Borgu first heard about the Government's urgent amendments, he thought the emergency legislation was aimed at groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir, a radical Islamic propaganda group that's careful to operate within current laws.
ALDO BORGU, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE: That was based on the Prime Minister's press release which actually talked about amending the legislation to make it easier to ban organisations that advocate terrorism or foster terrorism, rather than ones that just conduct it. But from the first reading of the bill introduced into parliament, that doesn't actually seem to be part now of the new legislation.
TOM IGGULDEN: But as the day wore on, it became clear the emergency laws were aimed simply at broadening the definition of what constitutes terrorism and not aimed at any particular group. And while the Government says the intelligence that sparked its urgency is specific, the nature of the threat it deals with isn't.
ALDO BORGU: The Prime Minister seemed to be very careful about the words he chose. He talked about a potential threat, he talked about specific intelligence which related to serious concern about a potential threat. But at no stage did he say that there was a specific threat or a specific terrorist act. - http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2005/s1496512.htm

Govt to extend inquiry into anti-terrorism laws
ABC Online Thursday, November 3, 2005. 2:51am (AEDT)
The Government leader in the Senate, Robert Hill, will today propose that an inquiry into the anti-terrorism laws be extended.
Senator Hill will announce the anti-terrorism inquiry can report back on November 28.
Opposition parties had claimed the probe would last only one day, but Senator Hill denies this.
"Well it was never going to be one day, but my proposal allowed I think it was eight days, but this will allow a longer period," he said.
He says the Government wants to give the Senate the longest possible time - within reason - to examine the bills. - http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1496528.htm

Terrorist threat timing a coincidence: PM
ABC OnlineWednesday, November 2, 2005. 8:23pm
The Prime Minister has rejected suggestions his announcement that Australia is facing a possible terrorist threat has been timed to avoid scrutiny of the industrial relations and counter-terrorism laws.
John Howard says he has intelligence now he did not have at the weekend, and the information concerns him.
However, Mr Howard has refused to outline the details of the threat.
He says the Government is doing everything it can to protect the community.
Mr Howard has told Channel 9 he has not timed the announcement of the threat to coincide with the workplace relations legislation, which was introduced into Parliament today.
"It is purely coincidental," he said.
"Now if I had made the calculation that I'll put this off for a few days so people won't accuse me of that, and something were to happen, people would have every right to condemn me unconditionally."- http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1496437.htm

Legislation to broaden definition of terrorist act
ABC OnlineThursday, November 3, 2005. 7:56am (AEDT)
The Senate will sit today to pass legislation the Federal Government says could help authorities deal with a specific threat of terrorism.
The Government says the new laws broadening the definition of a terrorist act are urgently needed because of a specific and credible threat of terrorism in the last few days.
It says the legislation will broaden the definition of a terrorist act, enabling people who are plotting an attack to be prosecuted.
But Democrats Leader Senator Lyn Allison and the Greens Senator Bob Brown are among those who are suspicious saying it is a bid to deflect attention from the Government's industrial relations (IR) legislation.
"This has all the hallmarks of John Howard manipulating the Parliament to his own political ends," Senator Brown said.
Labor's Arch Bevis says it is a convenient coincidence, but he is not too worried.
"If it is some ploy or smokescreen that will come out in the wash," he said.
Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says the idea of a conspiracy is fanciful.
"Any idea that this was some form of conspiracy to divert peoples attention from other political issues which is being offered as a view by some is just I think very far fetched," he said. - http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1496527.htm

Expert doubts terror attack is imminent
The Age, November 3, 2005 - 7:34AM
The terror alert on Wednesday could indicate the government was aware of a group or individual hatching a terror plot but that no attack was imminent, a terror expert said.
Neil Fergus, the former security chief for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said the National Threat Assessment Centre (NTAC) had not yet elevated the current threat level from medium to high - http://theage.com.au/news/National/Expert-doubts-terror-attack-is-imminent/2005/11/03/1130823309266.html

Melbourne, Sydney may be terror targets
The Age, November 3, 2005 - 2:34AM
The new terrorist threat announced by the government involved suspects filming possible targets in Melbourne and one person who trained with a terrorist group, a leading analyst says. - http://theage.com.au/news/National/Melbourne-Sydney-may-be-terror-targets/2005/11/03/1130823293224.html

NT nuclear waste dump jumps first hurdle
The Age, November 2, 2005
Controversial laws have been passed by the House of Representatives to clear the way for a nuclear waste dump to be built in the Northern Territory despite widespread opposition - http://theage.com.au/news/National/NT-nuclear-waste-dump-jumps-first-hurdle/2005/11/02/1130823275859.html

Terror threat overshadows IR debut
The Age,By Brendan Nicholson, Canberra, November 3, 2005
CHANGES to terror laws are being rushed through Parliament after security officials warned they had serious concerns that a terrorist attack was imminent. - http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/terror-overshadows-ir-debut/2005/11/02/1130823280992.html

VOTE on Terror laws - online poll
The Age, 3/11/05
Is Kim Beazley right to support the federal government's amendment to its terror legislation?
http://poll.f2.com.au/current.mpl?site=theage

Melbourne a possible target, says expert
The Age, November 3, 2005 - 8:49AM
The new terrorist threat announced by the government involved suspects filming possible targets in Melbourne and one person who trained with a terrorist group, a leading analyst says.
Clive Williams, an expert on terrorism who heads Canberra's Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, said the potential threat revealed yesterday may involve a person who trained with the listed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in Pakistan. - http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/melbourne-a-possible-target-says-expert/2005/11/03/1130823312133.html

Call to prove detention need
The Age, November 3, 2005, By Ian Munro
SECURITY agencies should have to demonstrate the need to detain suspects in order to use extended security powers, according to a British police intelligence expert. - http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/call-to-prove-detention-need/2005/11/02/1130823281022.html

Proposed Anti-Terror Laws
The Law Report, ABC, Tuesday 1 November 2005
Preventative detention; court orders and the sedition offences: who'll be caught in the net?
Are there enough checks and balances?
Do we actually need these new powers?
Is the draft legislation constitutional?
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/

Iemma feels heat from protest
The Australian, November 03, 2005, Jonathan Porter
MORE than 100 people vented their anger against NSW Premier Morris Iemma outside Parliament House in Sydney yesterday, labelling the new anti-terror laws as "John Howard's Reichstag fire" decree. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17123324%255E601,00.html

With stakes this high there's no way it's a stunt
The Australian, November 03, 2005, DENNIS SHANAHAN
JOHN Howard has launched into the two greatest leaps of faith of his political career on the same day. He announced Australia's first home-grown terrorist alert while pushing through the biggest changes to the nation's industrial relations laws in 100 years. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17123145%255E17301,00.html

Clerics still preaching hatred of West
The Australian, November 03, 2005, Richard Kerbaj
MUSLIM clerics in Sydney and Melbourne - led by radicals Sheik Mohammed Omran and Sheik Abdul Salam Mohammed Zoud - are still preaching hatred against the West, urging followers in Arabic to resist peace and support insurgents waging war against Australian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17123135%255E601,00.html

Amendment closes off loophole
The Australian, November 03, 2005Samantha Maiden
THE new law is aimed at terrorists who are planning or training for an attack but have not yet selected the target, the time or the method. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17123330%255E601,00.html

States get behind draft laws
The Australian, November 03, 2005, Simon Kearney
THE majority of states now back the latest draft of the federal Government's new anti-terrorism laws after John Howard assured the premiers in a conference call on Tuesday night that there were sufficient safeguards. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17123326%255E601,00.html

I could be targeted: Muslim leader
The Australian, November 03, 2005, Natalie O'Brien
AS the public face of the Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth, Chaaban Omran is used to the spotlight.
But the champion of Muslim rights fears his outspoken role may make him a target under the Howard Government's new anti-terror laws. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17123334%255E601,00.html

Ex-spy queries timing
The Australian, November 03, 2005, Natalie O'Brien and Simon Kearney
FORMER ASIS spy Warren Reed accused the Howard Government of scaremongering yesterday amid suspicions over the timing and urgency of the introduction of the anti-terror laws. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17123339%255E601,00.html

PM rejects terror-IR conspiracy link
The Australian, November 03, 2005
PRIME Minister John Howard says it's ridiculous to suggest his announcement of a potential terrorist threat to Australia was timed to deflect attention from controversial workplace relations legislation. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17125562%255E1702,00.html

Senate probe to be extended
The Australian, November 03, 2005
DEFENCE Minister Robert Hill will propose an inquiry into the government's tough anti-terrorism laws be extended until the end of November. - http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17125309%255E1702,00.html

Essential liberties are lost in imitation
SMH, October 27 2005
Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, University of New South Wales While both John Howard and Tony Blair are resolute in their desire to get new laws through their parliaments, Australia's new laws will be inferior to those introduced in Britain, and we risk doing greater damage to our democracy and fundamental liberties, writes George Williams. Without a bill of rights, Australia lacks the safeguards that underpin Britain's stand on terrorism. - http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2005/10/26/1130302836881.html

An overview of the effectiveness of closed circuit television (CCTV)
surveillance
Austalian Policy Online, 28/10/05
Information and Research Services, Parliamentary Library (PDF file)
As part of a raft of proposed new counter-terrorism measures, the prime minister announced that the government planned to develop a National Code of Practice for CCTV Systems. The Council of Australian Governments agreed that all governments would conduct a review of 'the functionality, location, coverage and operability of mass passenger transport sector CCTV systems' as an initial step towards applying CCTV in support of counter-terrorism arrangements. Nigel Brew surveys evidence on the impact and effectiveness of CCTV - http://www.apo.org.au/linkboard/results.chtml?filename_num=42057

Film and TV industry on the sedition laws
Barista - David Tiley 2 November
All the representative bodies of the film and television industry that do politics are doing it now. While I personally think there are wider problems with the legislation than the sedition clauses, I am very grateful this is happening.
Here is a  link to the PDF of the "Submission to the "Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee" by Chris Connelly, Faculty of Law, UNSW. http://dox.media2.org/barista/archives/002493.html Could soon be us
The location is London. Soon we will have these laws too.
The police officer gives me a partial copy of the Custody Record (Form 57). It does not contain the inventories of the content of my rucksack or what they took from the flat. The detail pages are not numbered and do not include the 'facts of arrest'. http://dox.media2.org/barista/archives/002492.html

Opposition? What's that?
Antony Loewenstein
In a real democracy - or a false two-party state like Australia - opposition parties can be expected to challenge government legislation or spin. - http://antonyloewenstein.blogspot.com/2005/11/opposition-whats-that.html

The Case Against David Hicks
Four Corners, 8.30 pm Monday 31 October.
"The Australians, the Americans, they all know - this is a façade, this is a farce"... David Hicks' US lawyer Josh Dratel.
"He knowingly joined the Taliban and Al Qaeda. I don't have any sympathy for anyone who's done that"... Prime Minister John Howard.
David Hicks came cheap. As US-backed Northern Alliance fighters routed Afghanistan's Taliban in late 2001, they seized the fleeing young Australian at a taxi station. Then they sold him to the Americans for $1000. - http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1491717.htm

Bypassing Beazley on terrorism laws 'unintentional'
ABC Online, Australia - 2 November 2005
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says the states have not set out to sideline the Federal Opposition in the terrorism debate. Mr ... http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1496182.htm

Labor ready to rush terrorism laws through
Daily Telegraph, Australia - 2 November 2005
LABOR is ready to back the federal government in rushing part of new anti-terrorism laws through parliament in the wake of specific information about a threat in Australia. http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,17115889-5001021,00.html

Beazley rolled on counter-terrorism bill
ABC Online, Australia - 2 November 2005
Opposition leader Kim Beazley has been rolled and prevented from putting to the Labor Caucus today his decision to commit his party to backing the Government's counter-terrorism bill.
Kim Beazley was confronted yesterday during a meeting of Labor's National Security Subcommittee, where he was advised of the depth of resentment in the party to the public position he had announced hours earlier. http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1495496.htm

Beazley consistent on terror: Labor MPs
The Age - 2 November 2005
Australian intelligence authorities have received specific information about a terrorist threat in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard says. Mr Howard refused to give details of the threat, saying the Australian public would never forgive him if he wrecked any police operation to stop it. - http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Beazley-consistent-on-terror-Labor-MPs/2005/11/01/1130823212518.html

Attack being planned in Australia: PM Four premiers to back new terror laws
Sydney Morning Herald - 2 November 2005
Australian intelligence authorities have received specific information about a terrorist threat in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard says. Mr Howard refused to give details of the threat, saying the Australian public would never forgive him if he wrecked any police operation to stop it. - http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Four-premiers-to-back-new-terror-laws/2005/11/01/1130823212518.html

Iraq war makes us target: Faulkner
Australian, Australia - 2 November 2005
LABOR heavyweight John Faulkner yesterday blamed the Iraq war for making Australia a bigger terror target during a fiery caucus debate over the party's ... http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17112955%255E601,00.html

Support for unseen terror laws
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 2 November 2005
KIM Beazley won the endorsement of the entire ALP caucus yesterday to support the Government's anti-terror laws, but only after more than an hour of ... http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17109374%255E662,00.html

Warning raises concerns: Analysis
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 2 November 2005
IT'S hard to know whether to be alert or alarmed - or just cynical. Prime Minister John Howard says he's received credible intelligence about a potential terrorist attack in Australia. He can't say where, or when, or what's being planned. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17118287-29277,00.html

PM warns of Australia terror threat
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 2 November 2005
Australian authorities have received specific intelligence that terrorists are planning an attack on the country, prime minister John Howard said. ... http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2181922005

Australia seeks urgent law amendment in response to terrorism ...
Japan Today, Japan - 2 November 2005
SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Wednesday that the government is seeking to have an urgent amendment to existing counterterrorism laws ... http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=7&id=354082

One word amendment widens terror laws
The Age - 2 November 2005
Prime Minister John Howard's proposed amendment to anti-terrorism laws will change one word - replacing "the" with "a" - to make it easier to prosecute people allegedly planning terrorist attacks. It clarifies that, in a prosecution for a terrorist offence, it is not necessary to identify a particular terrorist act. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/one-word-amendment-widens-terror-laws/2005/11/02/1130823256326.html

Australian Dollar Falls on Government's Terror Threat Warning
Bloomberg - 2 November 2005
The Australian dollar extended losses, trading at the lowest in more than three months, after Prime Minister John Howard said the government has received credible information about a terrorism threat. - http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000081&sid=aydMItK.VBLk&refer=australia

ASIO settles out of court over botched raid case
Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia - 2 November 2005
Before argument was heard or evidence tendered, Bilal Daye and Fatme Iali, the victims of a botched ASIO raid, have received a large financial settlement from the spy agency.
With the Federal Government this week trying to pass new anti-terror laws that expand the power of authorities to detain suspects based on intelligence, a three- to four-day trial and the publicity was unlikely to be welcome. - http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/asio-settles-out-of-court-over-botched-raid-case/2005/11/01/1130823210697.html

Fairfax leads media call to arms against anti-terrorism laws
ABC Online, Australia - 20 hours ago
Australia's media organisations and artists are joining forces to protest against the Federal Government's proposed new anti-terrorism laws. The newspaper publisher, Fairfax, says the bills would put journalism in Australia at grave risk, by curtailing free speech and compelling reporters to provide police with information.
Fairfax is preparing a draft submission for a future Senate inquiry based on the proposed laws, and expects to have the support of other Australian media organisations. - http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1495512.htm

Blog Views

'Specific' terror threat against Australia"
sweetspirits dayz nightz destin
Considering Australia's National Counter -Terrorism Alert Level remains at Medium. Or is our National Counter Terrorism Alert level staying on medium , so we don't all freak out. Only time will tell. - http://sweetspirits.blogspot.com/2005/11/specific-terror-threat-against.html

"Specific" terror threat- with no change to alert level?
mgk: Machine Gun Keyboard
So, HoWARd says there is a credible and specific terrorism threat to Australia. but the alert level has not been raised? Crap. Why isn't he on the scene with firehose and bomb disposal suit at the ready? ... - http://machinegunkeyboard.com/?p=134

On cue
Public Opinion
It was right on cue. The very day the anti-terrorism laws were due to be signed off... authorities had received specific information about a terrorist threat in Australia. It could... that the government was acting in response to the assessment that a terrorist attack in Australia is feasible - http://www.sauer-thompson.com/archives/opinion/2005/11/on_cue.php

The Fallen...
The Fly On The Wall
We have never had terrorism in Australia before, but now... tougher does not stop terrorism. By it's very nature it is impossibe to stop a terrorist. We should look at the root causes of terrorism and try to stop the motivation of these people. We should start - http://spaces.msn.com/members/flyonwall/Blog/cns!1pNSVX5uPhnlASRF5iTpNWuQ!518.entry

Australia Has Advice of Specific Terrorist...
Heavy Handed Politics
Australia Has Advice of Specific Terrorist Threat Australian Prime Minister John Howard said the government has received information on a credible terrorism threat and will recall legislators to give police extra powers to deal with the threat. Google News. - http://drivethrupolitics.blogspot.com/2005/11/australia-has-advice-of-specific.html

A terrible editorial from the Wall Street...
terror in delhi 10/29/05
was cheerfully supported by this paper. Turning things around will require looking at terrorism... alongside the world's other major democracies -- the U.S., Britain, Australia and Japan. As Indian..., because terrorism fans hatred toward the Muslim minority. According to Mr. Dasgupta - http://delhi1029.blogspot.com/2005/11/terrible-editorial-from-wall-street.html

USA

Bush critics conclude US is losing war on terrorism
Reuters - 2 November 2005
U.S. terrorism experts Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon have reached a stark conclusion about the war on terrorism: the United States is losing. Despite an early victory over the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, the two former Clinton administration officials say President George W. Bush's policies have created a new haven for terrorism in Iraq that escalates the potential for Islamic violence against Europe and the United States. - http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=tnBusinessNews&storyID=nN0137584

Senior al-Qaeda captive escapes
The Age,  November 3, 2005 - 5:49AM
Omar al-Faruq, one of al-Qaeda's most senior global operatives, escaped from an American military prison in Afghanistan in July, a US defence official said.
The official confirmed that the Kuwaiti, captured in Indonesia in 2002 and turned over to the United States, was among four prisoners who escaped from heavily fortified Bagram Air Base prison in July. He remains at large.
The official did not explain why the United States did not state that Faruq was among the four who escaped until pressed by lawyers at a military trial in Texas this week. - http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Senior-alQaeda-captive-escapes/2005/11/03/1130823305512.html

CIA holds terror suspects in secret global jail network
The Age, November 3, 2005, By Dana Priest, Washington
THE CIA has been hiding and interrogating some of its most important al-Qaeda captives at a Soviet-era compound in eastern Europe, according to US and foreign officials.
The secret facility is part of a covert prison system set up by the CIA nearly four years ago that at various times has had sites in eight countries, including Thailand, Afghanistan and several democracies in eastern Europe, as well as a small centre at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, according to current and former intelligence officials and diplomats from three continents.
The hidden global internment network is a central element in the CIA's unconventional war on terrorism. - http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/cia-holds-terror-suspects-in-secret-global-jail-network/2005/11/02/1130823281099.html

UK

Blair backs down on key terrorism measure
The Age, November 3, 2005 - 6:40AM
The British government backed down on a key counter-terrorist proposal today rather than risk its first defeat in parliament since 1997.
Parliamentarians including members of Prime Minister Blair's Labour party had been poised to vote down a Government plan to let police hold suspects for up to 90 days without charge. -

Rebel MPs cut terror jail terms
The Australian, November 03, 2005
THE British Government moved overnight to drop plans to detain terrorist suspects for 90 days without charge. The Government saw Labour Party rebels cut its majority to just a single vote over the creation of a new offence of encouraging terrorism.
Blair's Home Secretary Charles Clarke backed down after Labour backbencher David Winnick's amendment setting a 28-day limit on holding terror suspects looked certain to be passed.- http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17125514%255E1702,00.html

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re: Anti-terrorism laws - links update #10

Malcolm: "Does anyone have a link to the Bill (No 2) in Word format? I don't want to print the whole thing out again and whenever I save PDF files into Word, all I get is machine symbols."

Just download the .pdf file and print the pages you want. The option to print specific pages is under file/print. The option sometimes will not appear if you click the printer icon on the acrobat toolbar.

re: Anti-terrorism laws - links update #10

The ABC Online carries this story about Alistair Nicholson's criticism that the new AT law is unnecessary.

I have never had much time for Nicholson as a jurist or for the way he ran the shambles that is the Family Court but it is interesting that he is a former Judge Advocate General holding the rank of Air Vice-Marshal (I think - these blue orchids have such funny names) which should mean he might just have a bit of a clue about defence as well as some grasp of the law.

re: Anti-terrorism laws - links update #10

Does anyone have a link to the Bill (No 2) in Word format? I don't want to print the whole thing out again and whenever I save PDF files into Word, all I get is machine symbols.

I need to look at the referral questiona and the new sedition provisions.

re: Anti-terrorism laws - links update #10

In Balance is crucial for anti-terrorism bill (Financial Review, subscription required) Derek Woolner concludes:

[...] In this age of public service managerialism and workplace reform, why not include some performance-oriented criteria in the Australian workplace agreements between agency heads and their ministers? Say, control orders terminated if charges are not brought within six months and agency heads dismissed if an agreed proportion of control orders does not result in sustainable court cases.

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