Thursday, 31 August 2000
ALP Sneaks in Sell-Out on Defence Bill
The ALP today replaced its amendments to the Defence Amendment Bill
replacing them with a watered down and ineffectual sell-out, Greens Senator
Bob Brown said today.
"With no announcement and without warning the ALP slipped in revised
amendments that remove any real halter on troops being used on strikers and
protestors," Senator Brown said.=20
"Previously the ALP amendment had said that once called out the troops
could not be used unless there was 'a direct and immediate threat of death
or serious injury'. These words have been replaced by "reasonable
likelihood of death or serious injury".
"The old ALP amendments offered minimal protection against troops being
called out against peaceful protests and industrial disputes. The new
amendments reduce even that proviso and are effectively a complete
capitulation to the Government.
"The bill will now pass into law with no effective safeguards.
"As late as last night the ALP confirmed they were moving the same
amendments that they announced on Monday.
"The public has a right top know what went on last night and whether the
military placed any pressure on the ALP to change its amendments," Senator
Brown said.
"The Greens amendments offer the clearest and simplest way of ensuring that
troops are never used against Australians engaged in peaceful protests or
industrial disputes. I renew my call for the ALP to back them.
Senator Brown will table new legal advice in the Senate that shows the bill
is unconstitutional. Senator Brown will move that the legislation be
referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional committee for a short
inquiry into the constitutional doubts surrounding the bill.
Further information: Ben Oquist 02 62773170 or 0419704095
Damien Lawson
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Western Suburbs Legal Service Inc.
30 Hall St, Newport 3015 VIC
03 9391 2244 (Tel)
03 9399 1686 (Fax)
0418 140 387 (Mobile)
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