“Draconian” terror laws leaked to media
The government has been forced to defend its proposed anti-terror legislation, following the release of a draft version of the bill to the media, which has been met with public outrage. The Australian Capital Territory’s chief minister John Stanhope decided to leak the bill last week, over concerns that the legislation was too extreme and that it needed further public scrutiny. However, the Government’s control of senate means that this will be unlikely unless the Coalition can be forced to revise the legislation through the weight of public pressure. As it stands, the upper house will be given just one week to scrtunitise the legislation, which could see terror suspects locked up for two weeks, without charge or trial. Meanwhile, the Law Council has labeled the legislation as draconian. This report by Tristan Burt begins with comments from the council’s president, John North.