[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Iemma Should Resist Police

[Christopher Holley]

Iemma Should Resist Police

NSW Greens MP Sylvia Hale today called on the state government to
resist a campaign by the NSW Police Commissioner for even greater police
powers.  

“The mishandling of the Haneef case clearly demonstrates the dangers
of granting ever increasing powers to the police,” she said.

“It is extraordinary in light of the revelations about the actions of
the Australian Federal Police in the Haneef matter that the NSW Police
Commissioner and the Premier are seeking even greater powers for NSW
police.” 

“Of course the Police Commissioner would like police state powers, it
would make his job very easy if he has everyone on a database and
subject to surveillance 24 hours a day, but that is why the police are
subject to control by the elected government.”

“It is the government’s role to temper the excesses of police
powers, not to encourage them,” said Ms Hale.  

“The NSW Labor Party and the Police Commissioner are using the APEC
meeting as an excuse to ramp up police powers and trash the civil rights
of NSW citizens.” 

“Do we really want to live in a society where the government and the
police have the DNA and digital images of the irises of every citizen
kept on a central database?” 

Commissioner Moroney’s comments about the DNA database being needed
to “establish innocence” shows the way the justice system in this
state is moving inexorably to a position where everyone is considered
guilty until they prove themselves innocent,” said Ms Hale.

“The fear of being branded “soft on terrorism” is frightening
many people into silence and leading state governments to sacrifice
important civil rights.” 

“It is time for Premier Iemma to show some real courage by stopping
his pandering to the law and order zealots and resisting this
remorseless drive towards a police state,” said Ms Hale.

Contact: Chris Holley (02) 9230 3030 / 0437 779 546