[Greens-Media] Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative and Witness Protection) Bill 2006-7

[O'Toole, Michelle (Sen B. Brown)]

Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative and Witness
Protection) Bill 2006-7

Greens call on Ruddock to Drop AFP Secret House Search Laws

28th July, 2007

Greens Leader Bob Brown says the Haneef fiasco underscores the dangers
of a new bill giving the Australian Federal Police power to secretly
search people's houses.  The householder would never be told of the
search.

"The Howard government should drop this proposal, due to be passed by
the government Senate majority next month.  It is a dangerous law
because it allows police to obtain a warrant to search a property and in
some circumstances take items from the property, and not let the owner
know for six months, or in some circumstances, ever.  These "sneak and
peak" powers are unconstitutional in the USA," Senator Brown said.