[Greens-Media] Greens call on Premier Iemma to rule out extending anti-terror laws

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
29 September 2006

Greens call on Premier Iemma to rule out extending anti-terror laws 

Greens MP and justice spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Premier Iemma to rule out Federal Attorney-General Ruddock’s proposals to increase the period for which police can hold terrorist suspects from 14 to 28 days.  

“It is time Premier Iemma stood up to the Federal Government on their abuse of human rights in the name of fighting terrorism,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“The Federal Government are reliant on NSW to cooperate and implement these laws. Ruddock has given no justification to increase what are already extreme and dangerous police powers.

“NSW should not be the obedient servant of the Federal Government. I am calling on Premier Iemma to rule out any extension to the preventative detention laws in NSW.

“Anti-terrorism laws in NSW already impinge on fundamental freedoms and give police immense powers. Any proposal to extend preventative detention laws or other police powers should be rejected.

“NSW already has laws to detain terrorists suspects for 14 days.  

“The preventative detention powers have not been used in NSW yet. Any proposal to extend the time allowed to detain people is clearly unnecessary. Why extend laws that haven’t even been used yet?

“This obsession with ever tougher anti-terrorism laws does nothing to make the community safer from terrorist acts. It only tramples on human rights. 


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