As the tepid inquiry into the Haneef matter continues behind closed doors, it is clear that ex-justice Clarke lacks power to compel full disclosure of information and documents. CLA doubts – as do Haneef’s lawyers apparently – that traditionally ‘mum’ go…
The United Arab Emirates has shari’a law and a penal code sometimes inconsistent with Australia’s laws and codes, CLA is saying to the federal parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. For that reason, the responsible Australian Minister should…
Human Rights First has released a seminal study of the use of ‘coerced evidence’ by the US Administration to prosecute terrorists. This 72-page publication, meticulously footnoted, gives chapter and verse on where and how America has gone wrong in its bl…
Nothing about the USA’s treatment of David Hicks – rendition, locking up, charging with a non-crime, plea bargaining to meet an Australian election deadline, or silencing from comment – showed American ‘justice’ in a favorable light. Hicks spent six year…
The Australian newspaper – not traditionally anti-police or security services – has summed up how seriously ex-Minister Andrews failed Australia by "…engaging in a cynical attempt to ramp up the Howard government’s security credentials".…
Belgian sociologist Jean-Claude Paye believes David Hicks’ treatment by America and Australia has ramifications far beyond a simple nine months jail term. Hicks’ rendition from Afghanistan and detention in Guantanamo – as well as his subsequent local jai…
How Osama bin Laden and his ever-growing band of hirsute terrorists must be chuckling at the total shambles the APEC meeting is creating for great numbers of very cross residents. Al-Qaeda only needs to produce a little internet noise and Bush et al go i…
Has the Government’s offshore detention centres and tough stance on refugees deterred unscrupulous people-smugglers?
I do not think so. Now they can bring people to Australia legally under the 457 visa scheme. Unfortunately, many of these hapless souls…
Marvellous piece on Saturday by Jack Waterford (“Keys to Haneef case locked in secret compartment”, pB2). He didn’t mention but might well have done that the police have announced they are to complain about Haneef’s lawyers conduct, in issuing the second…
Attorney-General Ruddock is criticising lawyers and civil libertarians who are championing the rule of law in Australia, and supporting an Immigration Minister who is denying the presumption of innocence and a police force leaking against all the rules o…
