But I don't know where he gets that from at the moment Australia's Human Rights record is appalling just ask any Refugee! Anyway I do understand pragmatism so I won't knock him any further because he wants to compromise with the government about their human rights record.
To ensure no future government can erode basic human rights
AUSTRALIA: One of Australia's top barristers has called for the introduction of a bill of rights, to ensure no future government can erode basic human rights.
Lex Lasry, QC, gave last night's key note address at the University of Western Australia's annual Day of Ideas.
He told delegates while Australia has a good human rights record, he is concerned the Government is compromising that in its fight against terrorism.
But I don't know where he gets that from at the moment Australia's Human Rights record is appalling just ask any Refugee! Anyway I do understand pragmatism so I won't knock him any further because he wants to compromise with the government about their human rights record.
He says renewed debate is needed about the introduction of a bill of rights.
"I think the Government is using fear to erode people's rights and it's only perhaps in more recent times that people have started to see that it's important," he said.
"That these rights have to be protected in a way which can't be changed at the whim of government.
"I think the current Federal Government wouldn't be terribly sympathetic to that argument, but it may remain to be seen whether they are or not."
He says it is an issue that can no longer be ignored.
"The community's being urged to regard themselves as living in different times," he said.
"And every time you hear a politician say 'We're living in different times', the concern is that that's really code for 'You can't expect to have the same liberties now that you had in the past'."
"The problem with that is that it assumes that taking away people's liberties is going to prevent terrorism, and I obviously take issue with that logic."
Related:
Government warned Terror Laws "inherently dangerous, draconian and open to misuse"
As the free-market Forbes freaks meet in Sydney, proposed new "terror" laws have been touted as "inherently dangerous" and open to misuse. A recent poll, found that 70 per cent of respondents expected a terrorist attack in Australia within two years -- up from 66 per cent in March last year...
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror..." - Franklin Roosevelt
More:
http://www.geocities.com/publik16/archive05/2005c73.html
30a.org AT THE OPERA: an eyewitness account
Tense moments occurred as police at one point locked in Reclaim the Streets at Wynyard St. Thus far, 10 people have been arrested. One man wearing a white disposable jumpsuit and mask, was hurt in the clash and had to be treated for minor injuries by ambulance officers. Activists chanted "This is not a police state, we have the right to demonstrate!" as police illegally detained large groups of people. Tonight and tomorrow, more small group actions are planned.
More: http://www.geocities.com/publik16/archive05/Forbes.html
What about a bill of rights?
Hi. The deed is nearly done. By tonight, the NSW parliament will have passed new laws which allow police, on the say so of the police minister, to break-in to your house and search it, to strip search you, to search your vehicle, and to insist that you answer questions. The police minister is immune from scrutiny for whatever he authorizes and there's no public disclosure of what is done under the new powers.
More: http://www.arena.org.nz/austbor.htm
ACT flags Canberra site for SIEV-X memorial
"At this stage I haven't given serious consideration to whether the ACT Government should step in if the Commonwealth Government is resistant to working with this particular group."
More: http://sydney.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58522&group=webcast
Lex Lasry, QC, gave last night's key note address at the University of Western Australia's annual Day of Ideas.
He told delegates while Australia has a good human rights record, he is concerned the Government is compromising that in its fight against terrorism.
But I don't know where he gets that from at the moment Australia's Human Rights record is appalling just ask any Refugee! Anyway I do understand pragmatism so I won't knock him any further because he wants to compromise with the government about their human rights record.
He says renewed debate is needed about the introduction of a bill of rights.
"I think the Government is using fear to erode people's rights and it's only perhaps in more recent times that people have started to see that it's important," he said.
"That these rights have to be protected in a way which can't be changed at the whim of government.
"I think the current Federal Government wouldn't be terribly sympathetic to that argument, but it may remain to be seen whether they are or not."
He says it is an issue that can no longer be ignored.
"The community's being urged to regard themselves as living in different times," he said.
"And every time you hear a politician say 'We're living in different times', the concern is that that's really code for 'You can't expect to have the same liberties now that you had in the past'."
"The problem with that is that it assumes that taking away people's liberties is going to prevent terrorism, and I obviously take issue with that logic."
Related:
Government warned Terror Laws "inherently dangerous, draconian and open to misuse"
As the free-market Forbes freaks meet in Sydney, proposed new "terror" laws have been touted as "inherently dangerous" and open to misuse. A recent poll, found that 70 per cent of respondents expected a terrorist attack in Australia within two years -- up from 66 per cent in March last year...
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror..." - Franklin Roosevelt
More:
http://www.geocities.com/publik16/archive05/2005c73.html 30a.org AT THE OPERA: an eyewitness account
Tense moments occurred as police at one point locked in Reclaim the Streets at Wynyard St. Thus far, 10 people have been arrested. One man wearing a white disposable jumpsuit and mask, was hurt in the clash and had to be treated for minor injuries by ambulance officers. Activists chanted "This is not a police state, we have the right to demonstrate!" as police illegally detained large groups of people. Tonight and tomorrow, more small group actions are planned.
More:
http://www.geocities.com/publik16/archive05/Forbes.html What about a bill of rights?
Hi. The deed is nearly done. By tonight, the NSW parliament will have passed new laws which allow police, on the say so of the police minister, to break-in to your house and search it, to strip search you, to search your vehicle, and to insist that you answer questions. The police minister is immune from scrutiny for whatever he authorizes and there's no public disclosure of what is done under the new powers.
More:
http://www.arena.org.nz/austbor.htm ACT flags Canberra site for SIEV-X memorial
"At this stage I haven't given serious consideration to whether the ACT Government should step in if the Commonwealth Government is resistant to working with this particular group."
More:
http://sydney.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58522&group=webcast 
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