Greens Move to Avoid Unions, Community Groups Being Netted by Ant i-terror

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

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Sunday, 23 June 2002

Greens Move to Avoid Unions, Community Groups Being Netted by Anti-terror
Bill

Greens Senator Bob Brown will move four sets of amendments to the Howard
Government's anti-terror bills and a fifth amendment to close a loophole
already allowing the government to close down organisations without
reference to parliament.

"I hope Labor will back the amendments.  This is dangerous legislative
ground that the government has moved onto," Senator Brown said.

"We already have tough laws to surveil and apprehend terrorists.  We are not
at war.

"It is crucial that unions, churches and social justice or environment
groups are protected from longbow use of these laws by a government acting
outside parliamentary control.

"It is important that the rainbow fish are not caught up in the Howard
Government's shark net.

"But even with the ALP amendments legitimate peaceful protest and dissent
can still be ensnared.

"The sunset clause is crucial to review fraught legislation like this,"
Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ben Oquist 02 6277 3170 or 0419 704 095


See over: for outline of Greens amendments


Ben Oquist
Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown
02 62773170 ph
02 62773185 fx
www.bobbrown.org.au



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