Detention

Vulturous ATO preys on the grave

Civil Liberties Australia — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:16:16 +0000

As the Actor represents Everyman, so Paul Hogan represents us all over the bureaucratic inequities of oppressive legality and secrecy laws in Australia. He is now locked in the debtor's prison the nation is becoming, reverting to its penal role two centuries ago.

This article was posted on the Civil Liberties Australia website.

America the brave hides behind bars

Civil Liberties Australia — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:23:21 +0000

In a recent series of articles, The Economist queries the sanity of the USA locking away more and more people in jails, some for almost unbelievable 'crimes', at increasingly greater cost year by year. There are lessons here for Australia.

This article was posted on the Civil Liberties Australia website.

Students help frame debates

Civil Liberties Australia — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:53:53 +0000

CLA works with advanced and honours students on topics of mutual interest, where the student gains credits for 'internship' programs or honours studies, and CLA benefits from excellent research papers which help to shape a current or future dilemma. See if one of these research ideas interests you.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Is Australia's fight for freedom only overseas?

Civil Liberties Australia — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:27:20 +0000

'Lateline' is on the TV, and its part 1 of a two-part program regarding Mentoring Team Alpha in Afghanistan...and I think of the Australian men killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

I reflect on my five years in Iraq and the men killed there. I think of the 'superb' BCR (battle casualty rate) of 12.5% of the 22,5000 Counter Insurgency personnel we trained in Iraq; hell how good is that! Only 2,812 (point 5) men killed. Bloody proud of that I am. Damn shame about the hundreds of thousands of women and children killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, but I guess they have to pay a price.

This article was posted on the Civil Liberties Australia website.

Time to finalise matter of Mr Ward's avoidable death

Civil Liberties Australia — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:14:35 +0000

Editor, West Australian: I respond to your report 'Frustrated DPP sees flaws in quality of police probe' 29 June 2010, p7.

I have read Coroner Alastair Hope's report on Aborigine elder Mr Ward's death in custody, in the back of a prison transfer van, which includes his recommendations. In the report the coroner found that every level of authority from the Minister for Corrective Services Margaret Quirk, right down to the two drivers, in the coroner's words "failed in their duty of care".

It's important for the public to appreciate that, unfortunately, the police investigation of the matter did upset the coroner: that is, the two drivers were not kept separate before being interviewed...but that's only one of a number of aspects the coroner was concerned about.

This article was posted on the Civil Liberties Australia website.

No proof roadside drug testingdrivers benefits the community

Civil Liberties Australia — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:56:43 +0000

Around Australia, drug testing of drivers takes places with no proven benefit to society and great penalty to people's civil liberties. In WA, the accuracy of the tests is declining, research in SA shows (see CLArion newsletter July 2010). Here, Bill Bush outlines why the ACT should not introduce such an uncertain, inequitable form of driver testing.
Read article»...

This article was posted on the Civil Liberties Australia website.

Do the 'bikie laws' breach rights?

Civil Liberties Australia — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:39:42 +0000

Do the 'bikie laws' breach rights?

What does CLA think of the SA legislation - the 'bikie laws' - now being considered, on appeal, by the High Court. Does the Act breach an individual's human rights, we were asked by a student?

This article was posted on the Civil Liberties Australia website.

Time to re-think parole, says judge

Civil Liberties Australia — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:22:19 +0000

Prisons, parole and a ticket-of-leave system are in the DNA of many Australians, WA's Chief Justice Wayne Martin points out. It's time we re-thought sentencing and parole to better reflect what today's community wants...and it may be a case of deja vu all over again! Read speech »...

This article was posted on the Civil Liberties Australia website.