As David Marr comments in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty is no more than a ghost in the Clarke report finding on his role. He doesn’t get a mention. Nothing. He gets off scot-free in what must be the most blatant, irresponsible behaviour of a commissioner of police ever.
Haneef has now, at last, after being humiliated, detained without cause, hounded by the police, by former minister for immigration Kevin Andrews, and especially by Keelty, been completely exonerated. This was the first time the detention without charge had been used and Keelty made a meal of it.
This, in spite of ASIO’s report on Day 2, in writing, to the government that it ”had not identified information to suggest Haneef posed a threat to security in Australia or overseas”. Andrews, who cancelled Haneef’s visa, doesn’t get a serve either.
The Clarke report says, ”The evidence against Mohamed Haneef was completely deficient.”
This mess has cost the Australian taxpayer about $8 million, that’s just so far. Haneef, though he holds no grudges, (and well he might) is considering seeking compensation.
But this problem unfortunately doesn’t end there. Clarke urges changes to a system with ”simply no provision covering procedural fairness problems” ,and, ”There is presently no limit to the time a person can be held without charge.” When are we going to learn?
Marie Gordon, Palmerston