MELBOURNE: Rob Stary, president of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association, was one of the main speakers who attacked the anti-terrorism laws as abhorrent to Australia's liberal democratic values.
"In the US there is no preventive detention, there are no control orders," Mr Stary said. "In the UK the system has become so discredited that there is only one person in a population of 55 million on a control order."
"Saddam Hussein and Slobodan Milosevic are going to have public trials. There will be no public trials in Australia for people who are charged with so-called terrorism offences," he said.
Other speakers included Reta Kaur from Women for Peace, Dave Kerin who offered apologies for Martin Kingham from the CFMEU for being unable to attend, and Donna Mulhearn, peace activist and human shield.
After the speakers concluded, a huge rainbow peace banner was unfurled. The rally marched down Swanston Street to Federation Square.
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The Defence Minister has said that the Government intends to make it easier to call out troops onto Australian streets with shoot to kill powers This is another "anti-terrorist" measure" which has potentially frightening consequences for the right to dissent.
Yesterday Senator Robert Hill, the Defence Minister announced the Government intends to make it far easier to call the Military out on the streets with stronger powers, including the right to detain people, to search and seize and the power to shoot to kill.
The army already has these powers in certain situations but according to Hill there are too many restrictions on their use. He said that at present calling out the armed forces was "constitutionally fraught" and the laws were too "complex" and "awkward" in a rapidly developing environment.
Under existing laws, Commonwealth interests must be at risk - or state police forces must be unable to cope. The Attorney-General, Prime Minister and Defence Minister must agree. The Governor-General then must approve and authorise the Chief of the Defence Force to act.
Exactly why these modest restrictions are too onerous for the government has not been spelled out. Apparently getting Howard, Ruddock, Hill and the GG to approve calling out the troops is too hard in the event of an emergency - perhaps they want to take the GG out of the loop.
Although the changes are being wheeled as part of the preparation to protect us from a terrorist attack - when you look at what Hill actually says its clear that the Government is trying to make it easier to militarise the streets not just in the event of terrorism but also for protests.
Hill said "There would be greater flexibility in the call out provisions to meet a wider range of scenarios," he said.
"It would ease the processes for calling out the military"
The Sunday Herald Sun reported that "He said that in response to an attack or threat, capital cities would be flooded with special forces soldiers flown in by Black Hawk helicopters from Holsworthy Military Base. "
The key word in this paragraph - is the event of not just an attack but the THREAT of an attack. Let me guess - the next time we are planning protests equivalent to the World Economic Forum protests of 2000, or against CHOGM etc the Government will declare there is a threat of a terrorist attack and the city will be flooded by armed troops with the power to shoot to kill. Kent State here we come.
The media are mainly reporting the fact that these changes are not that big and will only be used in the event of a terrorist attack occurring. This is despite the ambiguous nature of Hills statements and that we haven't seen any details.
Even the Greens seem to have got it wrong - with Kerry Nettle taking the angle that these are not meaningful changes and are just a distraction to the IR bills. I am not sure how she can be so confident that these changes are so harmless without seeing the details. Of course Bomber Beazley only contribution was to ask why these fascist powers weren't introduced four years ago.
So stay tuned - the devil is in the detail as always with this Government so lets see what they produce. The Government hopes to introduce the Bill before Christmas.
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By peace now! 7 November 05
Brisbane activists and concerned citizens will protest John Howard at his attendance at a charity ball this Wednesday, November 9th. The man who banned the word 'hypocrite' in parliament will be attending a gala fundraising dinner event for Rosies this week in Brisbane.
Rosies is a charity organisation that gives aid to homeless people on the streets of Australia's cities. It doesn't take a brain-surgeon to figure out that Howard's polices on welfare reform are probably contributing to increased need for the services of charities like Rosies. (Part of Howards' privatisation of everything)
Howard will be joined at the dinner event by retired head of the Australian Armed Forces, Peter Cosgrove.
Brisbane people will be turning out to greet the PM on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm on the steps of the Brisbane Convention Centre (Rydges Hotel end).
If you're in Brisbane and would like to let the PM know what you think about his IR reforms, treatment of refugees, welfare reforms, terror laws, destruction of the environment, pro-nuclear stance or the myriad other anti-social things Howard and his government has done: Join us! Let him always be reminded that we know his government is founded on lies: WMD lies, children overboard lies, terror liesÉ.
Government is meant to serve the people, not the other way around.
*****Protest the PM: John Howard visits Brisbane Wednesday Nov 9 . Gather 6pm outside the Brisbane Convention Centre cnr Glenelg and Merrivale Strs.South Brisbane.
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