Federation of Community Legal Centres
Media Release : April 19, 2002
Attorney General admits banning power not required by UN
The Attorney General's Department has admitted that the UN Security
Council does not require proposed powers for the Attorney General to ban
organisations. Until now the government has, in part, justified its
proposed counter-terrorism legislation by reference to expectations of
the UN and the international community.
The revelation is contained in written answers made public by the Senate
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. The Attorney General's
Department has stated that, although Security Council Resolution 1373
required actions against the financing of terrorism, "there are
currently no Security Council resolutions or other international
instruments which provide a basis for organisations to be proscribed in
more general terms."
The proposed power to ban organisations is one of the most controversial
proposals being considered by the Senate Legal and Constitutional
Affairs Legislation Committee this week.
It has been widely opposed by nearly all organisations that made
submissions to the hearings including the Law Council, Victorian Council
of Social Services, Uniting Church, ACTU and the Federation of Community
Legal Centres.
Damien Lawson, spokesperson for the Federation of Community Legal
Centres said today,
"it is clear that the government's plan to ban organisations has no
credible support. The UN does not require it; the community is opposed
to it. It is authoritarian and has no place in a democracy."
The Senate Hearings continue in Canberra today.
For more information and comment: Damien Lawson 0418 140 387
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]
www.vicnet.net.au/~wsls
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]
www.vicnet.net.au/~wsls
.
--
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