[Greens-Media] Howard should learn from Thomas ruling and act on Hicks

[Lawson, Damien (Sen K. Nettle)]

Howard should learn from Thomas ruling and act on Hicks

18.08.06

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle welcomed today's decision by the Victorian
Court of Appeal to overturn the convictions of Australian man Jack
Thomas who was accused of terrorist offences.

The court ruled that evidence obtained by the Australian Federal Police
while Mt Thomas was held incommunicado in Pakistan was inadmissible.

"The court has upheld fundamental principles of the law that the Howard
government has been prepared to jettison", Senator Nettle said.

"This is a rebuke to the practice of secret and unaccountable detention
that has grown under George Bush and John Howard's war on terror."

"The Australian legal system does not accept evidence obtained in this
way and the Australian government should not allow an Australian citizen
to be tried in a legal process that accepts such evidence as is being
proposed in David Hick's military commission."

"The rule of law must be defended at every opportunity. It is a good day
for Australian justice."

"John Howard should learn from this and act on David Hicks."

Information - Damien Lawson 0419 253 342

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Office of Greens Senator Kerry Nettle
Tel: 02 9690 2038 Mobile: 0419 253 342
Fax: 02 9690 2041 www.kerrynettle.org.au