Uighurs are truly 'special' refugees
The Uighurs from Guantanamo Bay, innocent of anything other than fleeing persecution, should be viewed with compassion by the Rudd government, Chris Michaelsen writes. A large Uighur population in Australia can help them, whereas their confinement on the island of Palau simply swaps Guantanamo's razorwire for isolation by ocean.
Read more »...Should we entrench a Bill of Rights?
As Australia awaits the government's decision on a Bill of Rights, the debate is switching to whether such a Bill should be 'entrenched' in the Constitution, or an ordinary Act of Parliament. Here's the view of Prof Brian Opeskin, of Macquarie Uni.
Read more »...Manhattan no isle of joy for
'crimes' not on law books
In the USA, the Administration appears determined to continue charging alleged terrorists with non-existent crimes, even though President Bush has given way to President Obama. Moving Guantanamo prisoner trials to Manhattan Island, NY, won't turn charges that don't exist in law into legal prosecutions, writes Robert Briggs.
Privacy doesn't matter...until it
does, says medallist Clarke
Professor Roger Clarke, chair of the Australian Privacy Foundation and a CLA member, was awarded the 2009 Australian Privacy Medal in November for a lifetime of work ensuring people's rights are as protected as possible. In his speech, he outlined some of the major challenges the nation is facing, and spoke of "the sorry state that privacy protection in Australia is in..."
Police want metal detectors lining streets
Police in WA want metal detectors to line the streets of Perth. They also want the power to stop, scan and body search at will, without reasonable suspicion of an offence. Will it be a case of Perth WA this year, then Adelaide SA, Sydney NSW, etc next year? It's time to tell police and politicians throughout Australia that we don't want to live in police States - write, email, phone and text to demonstrate citizens value our freedom. Here Brian Tennant explains his objections.
Premier, etc 'unwise to comment'
In South Australia, with an election close, both Labor and Liberal politicians play the 'law and order' card constantly in the media. But in doing so, the Chair of the SA Council for Civil Liberties warns, they are being both unfair and unwise, particularly when their gratuitous comments apply to Aboriginal children.
Why Ferguson’s rights matter
A correspondent has lashed out at people like us for supporting convicted pedophile Dennis Ferguson, out of jail after completing his sentence but being hounded from pillar to post. Here’s the reply, by CLA CEO Bill Rowlings, to the writer Lenny who says civil liberties people are worse than terrorists.
Portugal tries new drugs approach
Portugal decriminalised personal consumption of drugs almost a decade ago, showing a lead to other advanced nations. It is also about to introduce an innovative national alcohol program. Advisor to the national drugs board, Fatima Trigueros, reports in detail on what changes decriminalising drugs has made in consumption in general society, schools and prisons.
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