Author: Lance Williamson

Bernard Keane rightly observes that “the War on Terror has proceeded for 16 years … that trillions of dollars have been spent … hundreds of thousands of people have been killed … some of our most fundamental freedoms have been abolished (in the name of fighting people who ‘hate our freedoms’) … we have become a surveillance society. And yet, judging by the conduct of governments and the media, we’re no safer than we were in 2001.” (“More mass surveillance won’t make Brits (or Aussies) any safer”, ‘Crikey’, 6 June 2017). If it really is beyond our political leaders to countenanceContinue reading

We have had a change in government in WA and are about to have a new Commissioner for Police so this is a great opportunity for new directions. It is to be hoped that the new Commissioner will be one who can lift the bar for Police Officers to become professional people working towards long term benefits of individuals and society. It may seem “tough” to use more force than is necessary to apprehend or subdue an individual, but it only serves to intensify the mental health problems of that person, and so make the community less safe. It isContinue reading

The responses to terrorism continues to tighten the noose on democracy.  At the COAG meeting 170608, in response to the Yacqub Khayre incident, nationalising parole being discussed. Sentiment led by Attorney-General George Brandis is that anyone who has had any association with a terrorist and is convicted of a crime be denied parole. This despite the fact that the Victorian parole board that let Khayre out were not told he was on a terror watch list. What determines who is on such a list? Who decides what “terrorism” is? The definition is changeable according to the whim of the AG’s officeContinue reading

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin has warned of an “exponential rise” in terrorist activity in Australia inthe past two years. He cited the fact that there were 19 terrorism-related police investigations conducted in 2014, growing to72 in 2016 (“Politics live: Turnbull govt confronts spies, lies and refugees”,canberratimes.com.au, May 31 http://tinyurl.com/yddbcny. Based on the commissioner’s numbers, an unkind casual observer might suggest government efforts to stem the incidence of terrorism related activity are having precisely the opposite effect. That said, we can’t really be certain of that without knowing what percentage of the investigations actually resulted in successful convictions. The AustralianContinue reading

I respond to the federal government’s to propose “Sex fiends forced (to stay) home”. It is necessary to respond to the federal government to introduce legislation which would prevent convicted paedophiles from traveling overseas and even preventing them obtaining a passport. I speak on behalf of rehabilitated ex-offenders – if we are to have faith in our system of justice in which criteria is protection of society, punishment and rehabilitation. All states of Australia enjoy the spent conviction act where ex-offenders don’t offend for 10 years and they may apply to the court or to the Commissioner of Police free ofContinue reading