please distribute widely: Terror Laws Update, February 8, 2002
If you have not already done so, subscribe to TerrorLaws and keep updated on information and action you can take. To subscribe simply send an email to - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Proposed Laws The new laws will be introduced to Parliament in the coming weeks. At this stage we do not know exactly when, although there is a suggestion that the government will introduce the bills in two parts with the less controversial bills, such as penalties for hoaxes, first. Concerns remain that the legislation will give ASIO unprecedented powers of detention and be so broad in scope as to enable the activities of many social movements and unions to be criminalised. We must continue to assert that the existing criminal law and investigation processes are adequate to address any threats of real terrorism. It is crucial that people continue to focus concern on the ALP and urge them to oppose these aspects of the legislation, in particular it is important that they are urged to ensure the legislation is subject to a public inquiry over several months by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. The Greens and Democrats have said they will support this. There will not be any public confidence in an inquiry conducted by the Joint Committee on ASIO/Intelligence Services. As far as we know the proposed bills are: 1) Criminal Code Amendment (Terrorist Bombing Offences) Bill which will a) set out a new offence of terrorism in the criminal code: as an act or omission that constitutes an offence under the UN and other international counter-terrorism instruments, or an act committed for a political, religious or ideological purpose designed to intimidate the public with regard to its security and intended to cause serious damage to persons, property or infrastructure b) enable ASIO and police to hold people for 48 hours incommunicado merely on the suspicion that they may be able to provide information regarding politically motivated violence. Those interrogated would not have a right to a lawyer and could face penalties for asserting their right to silence. 2) Criminal Code Amendment (Anti-hoax and Other Measures) Bill concerning dangerous, threatening or hoax materials sent through the post 3) Customs Legislation Amendment (Border Security) Bill will amend customs legislation to introducing new security measures at airports etc. 4) Security Legislation (Terrorism) Bill it is unclear what the content of this is. 5) Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism Bill Amendments will be made to the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988 to allow the reporting of possible terrorist-related transactions and international funds transfers. The Act will also be amended to enable AUSTRAC to share financial transaction reports information with other countries and to enable ASIO and the AFP to share such information with equivalent agencies overseas. The government has already issued lists of alleged terrorists and terrorist organisations whose assets must be frozen by the holder of those assets under the Charter of the United Nations (Anti-terrorism Measures) Regulations 2001. The list is not restricted to organisations associated with Osama Bin Laden, but also a range of guerilla organisations such as Kurdish, Colombian and Tamil groups who are involved in civil wars. 6) other amendments to the Telecommunications (Interception) Act 1979 will allow ASIO and police to access to unread e-mails. Relevant Politicians Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Home Affairs Senator John Faulkner Tel: (02) 6277 3233 Fax: (02) 6277 3415 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Daryl Williams Attorney General Tel: (02) 6277 7300 Fax: (02) 6273 4102 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Resources The Parliamentary Library has an excellent resource page which lists most relevant legislation and other documents accessible online: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/law/crimlaw.htm#Terrorism If you have not already done so, subscribe to TerrorLaws and keep updated on information and action you can take. To subscribe simply send an email to - [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more information contact: Damien Lawson Western Suburbs Legal Service Inc. 30 Hall St, Newport 3015 VIC 03 9391 2244 (Tel) 03 9399 1686 (Fax) 0418 140 387 (Mobile) [EMAIL PROTECTED] . -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
