[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) New Terrorism Law Gives More Rights to Serial Killers than Uncharged Detainees

[Christopher Holley]

New Terrorism Law Gives More Rights to Serial Killers than Uncharged
Detainees


A Bill passed by the NSW parliament last night removes visitation
rights for people as young as 16 held in the state’s prisons under
preventative detention orders, giving them less rights than convicted
serial killers.

“To give more rights to a convicted serial killer than to an
uncharged 16 year old is completely perverse and it clearly demonstrates
why this is bad law,” said NSW Greens MP Sylvia Hale in speaking
against the Terrorism (Police Powers) Amendment (Preventative Detention)
Bill 2007.

“A convicted serial killer has a right to be visited by his legal
practitioner in relation to any matter in which he has an interest, to
have his health monitored and to have his treatment monitored to ensure
that he is not subject to abuse, bashings or torture.”
“A 16 year old facing no charge but held on a preventative detention
order has no such rights. The right to contact a lawyer is constrained,
the right to contact the CEO of Justice Health or the Official Visitor
is removed by this Bill.”

“The Greens can see no justification for refusing people held in
prisons or detention centres access to the CEO of Justice Health or the
Official Visitor, both of whom are persons appointed by the
Minister.”

“In fact, we see denial of access to such people an invitation to
ill-treatment and abuse of people held on preventative detention
orders.” 

“We are establishing a system whereby an Australian citizen,
including a teenager as young as 16, can be taken into custody without
charge, taken to a prison or juvenile detention centre and kept for 14
days while being denied access to those people who have a legislative
responsibility to ensure their welfare.”

“It is a system so breathtakingly open to abuse that it is
unconscionable to support it,” Ms Hale told the parliament.

“This Bill is part of disturbing trend of excessive security
legislation in the lead up to APEC,” said Ms Hale.

Contact: Chris Holley 02 9230 3030 or 0437 779 546