The House of Representatives has passed the Federal Government's industrial relations (IR) bill after debate on the legislation was gagged.
The Government moved to guillotine the debate, arguing it had been the longest one in the history of the Parliament.
That angered the Opposition; there were more than 20 Labor MPs yet to speak.
The Government's Leader in the House, Tony Abbott, told the Parliament 77 MPs had taken part in the debate over a total period of 24 hours.
"We have had very, very extensive debate," he said.
"I put it to you Mr Speaker how much debate, how much more debate could this bill possibly require?
"And I put it to you that members opposite aren't interested in debating this bill, they aren't interested in trying to improve this bill. They simply just want to reject this bill."
But the Manager of Opposition Business, Julia Gillard, said many Labor MPs were yet to speak.
"More than 20 Labor members are going to be silenced by this motion which is gagging debate," Ms Gillard said.
Labor MP Annette Ellis says it is a "black day" for democracy in Australia, while her colleague, Steve Georganas, says it shows the "extreme behaviour of this Government, where they've been stifling democracy".
Debate on the bill was guillotined after the Goverment used its numbers.
After the vote, a grinning Prime Minister John Howard turned to his Workplace Relations Minister and shook his hand.
Mr Howard later defended the Government's decision to guillotine debate, rejecting suggestions the Government had abused its power.
"It's the longest debate of the nine-and-a-half years that I've been prime minister and how can it be an abuse?" he said.
The bill will go to the Senate for debate when Parliament returns in a fortnight.
Related:
By Socialist Alliance posted 10 November 05
In the week in which PM John Howard's support as preferred prime minister dropped to a three-year low, the arrest of 17 people in Sydney and Melbourne on November 7-8, allegedly for planning a terrorist attack, was exceedingly fortunate timing for the federal government.
The overnight escalation of the "anti-terror" fear-mongering campaign that the government and media have perpetrated since September 11, 2001, will be a convenient diversion from the government's new industrial relations laws, opposed by the overwhelming majority of people in Australia. Any doubt that the raids were politically stage-managed should be dispelled by the fact that the police invited sections of the mass media to join them.
Forty-eight hours after the arrests, the details of the charges against the 17 remain undisclosed. However, this has not stopped the media and politicians, Coalition and Labor alike, proceeding to charge, try and convict them - whether or not they are guilty of any illegal activities. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty has been thrown out the window in the so-called war on terror. The chances of these 17 men now getting a fair trial is now almost nil.
The Socialist Alliance condemns all terrorist acts. The targeting of innocent civilians is horrendous and unjustifiable. But there is a fundamental difference between discussing political and religious beliefs, suicide bombings or even how to make a bomb, and actually carrying out a terrorist act.
That difference - between thought and action - has been obliterated in the new terror laws that the Howard government, with full Labor Party backing, is rushing through parliament. These laws, which criminalise dissenting ideas, annul the right to silence and remove legal "due process" from public view, are a violation of basic human rights. If we are to continue to call Australia a democracy, they must be resisted.
The Socialist Alliance joins with all those who refuse to be intimidated and silenced by the government's "anti-terror" propaganda and laws.
We will continue to speak out for the immediate withdrawal of all Australian military personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Australian government's participation in the inhumane and illegal war on the Iraqi people, and its wholehearted support for imperialism's war of terror, is creating more, not less terrorism.
We will continue to defend the right of all people to full freedom of speech and association, and oppose the banning of any organisation by the Australian government.
We will continue to campaign for the repeal of all federal anti-terror laws, and demand that the federal ALP opposition reverse its shameful support for Howard's police-state laws, and that all state Labor governments repeal the anti-terror laws they have passed in recent years.
And we will continue to condemn ASIO-police raids on the homes of innocent Muslims and stand in solidarity with the victims of these attacks. The huge sums of public money being spent on these terror raids should instead be spent on a public education campaign against racism towards the Middle Eastern and Muslim communities.
[The Socialist Alliance is helping to establish an emergency response network of all those who want to help defend individuals or organisations under attack from the new police-state laws. To sign on to the network, email [email protected], or visit www.socialist-alliance.org]
www.socialist-alliance.org
Comment:
HoWARd pulled all the strings it had nothing to do with him giving up anyone.
HoWARd announced the terror legislation and to back it up arranged for the PR stunt. He secured the states and the state police.
The State pre-meditators needed help too.
So the neoliberal team all worked together to pull it all off.
The idea that hoWARd gave up the police operation was another big PR accessory after the fact, of the announcement to validate it.
That's why Kerry O'Brien on 7:30 the night before the raids attacked hoWARds credibility over the amendment rushed through the house. He made Howard look silly. But that was the plan. Because they both new the raids were on there way just like 4 Corners [walls] new. They did a great job. Showmanship!
This is the best part
And you will never know about whether the suspected terror allegations are true or false until hoWARd has secured the new Anti-Terror Legislation and IR laws passed through the house????????????????
IR law changes fit in real well that's how you kill two birds with one stone.
4 Corners [Walls] ran the HRMU High Risk Management Unit at Goulburn on Monday night so hoWARd could validate the secure opperation and show the Muslims suspects where he was sending them. That's how cunning he is.
4 walls have been doing hoWARds bidding for some time.
Shame howard shame! I'll bet the 100 to 1 that the alleged terrorists are vindicated but by then it will be too late. I hope the people of this country are not so stupid as to let the hoWARd run away with the law!
Related:
By Greens MLA, posted 10 November 05
Address: Canberra, Local Assembly
'the [ACT] Minister for Police refused to answer questions about complaints against police at the Annual Report public hearing today'
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey Media Release
Friday 4 November 2005
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complaints against police
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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey expressed concern about the transparency of ACT Policing, after the Minister for Police refused to answer questions about complaints against police at the Annual Report public hearing today.
"At a time when police are to be given more powers, including the use of force against people who may be entirely innocent, we need to be utterly convinced our police force remains accountable and holds up to robust examination" Dr Foskey said today.
"However, the ACT Policing Annual Report provided little information about complaints made against it last year, and the Minister refused to allow questions on the matter in the Committee hearing today."
"The ACT Policing Annual Report failed to cite the number of complaints made against it, the number investigated, and consequent actions taken against AFP employees. The report merely states (p 27) that there were only four substantiated complaints in 2004-05."
"By contrast, the ACT Ombudsman's Annual Report (p 20) reveals that 460 issues arising from complaints were managed through a workplace resolution process, and 246 were successfully conciliated. The Ombudsman has also foreshadowed own motion investigations on areas 'where police interaction with the public remains problematic'."
"The Minister for Police would not tell the Committee why the ACT Policing report did not address these or other matters raised by the Ombudsman. It is no slur on the integrity of the police for me to expect and ask for a full and frank disclosure of its handling of complaints in its annual report" Dr Foskey said.
============================
Roland Manderson Media Advisor
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey
Legislative Assembly for the ACT
ph(02)62050551 m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au =====
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