The Wire

As the Wire outlined last night, today’s the state premiers met with the federal government to nut out possible new laws to prevent terrorism. And by mid-afternoon they’d come to an agreement. Premier’s such as Queens land’s Peter Beattie acknowledged the laws were draconian but necessary but pointed to safe guards insisted upon by state governments. The state premiers insisted on two provisions that will see a sunset clause of 10 years placed on the laws – this means they will have to be passed through parliament again to remain legal. Also, a five-year review has been built into the laws. The agreement was requirement from the states in order to allow for proposed new “control orders” to be legal – these orders may see terror suspects forced to wear tracking devices for up to a year, as well as see their travel restricted for the same period. However, civil libertarians claimed that by the far the most concerning aspect of the proposed laws, which also required state approval, are the preventative detention provisions. These provisions allow for terror suspects to be detained for up to two weeks without charge or trial. Legal observers noted because the definition of terrorism under laws passed since 2001 are so broad that effectively innocent people can be held for up to two weeks, just for holding beliefs which may not even condone acts of physical violence. The report by Erica Vowles begins with comments from Democrat’s senator Natasha Stott Despoja. Senator Stott Despoja gave her reaction to the safe guards insisted upon by the state premiers.