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Terror Reply Letters from authorities (PDF):

  1. Morris Iemma MP, the NSW Premier (15/12/05).
  2. Office of the Premier of Victoria (6/12/05).
  3. Hon. Geoff Gallop, Premier of Western Australia (28/11/05).
  4. Jon Stanhope, Chief of Ministers, ACT (12/11/05).
  5. Hon. Kate Ellis MP, Labor member for Adelaide (7/10/05).

16/12/05: A public rally in response to violent racist attacks in Cronuella Beach in New South Wales

28/11/05: Adelaide public rally against anti-terror law and police state

21/11/05: Letter to Chairperson of Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee.

31/10/05: Letter to the Hon Mike Rann, South Australian Premier, re: preventative detention.

Unveiling Australia's Anti-Terrorism Law

On 8th September 2005, the Australian Prime Minister John Howards announced that the government will introduce a tough new anti-terrorism law. According to the Prime Minister's press release, the new measures will include preventative detention and control orders. Under these new measures, the authorities can arrest and detain terrorist suspects with new a power that is quite diffrent from the power that being granted to the ASIO and police.

Human rights groups have expressed their concerns about the new measures. The government did not release the draft to the public.

On 14 October 2005, the ACT Chief Minister put the secret draft bill on his website. On 16 October, three panel of law experts gave their first assessment of the anti-terrorism legislation.

On 2nd November 2005, the government swiftly introduced a short --4 pages -- amendament to the existing terrorism law (Criminal Code of 1995). Government cites an urgency to amend, fact disputed by the opposition and minor parties.

On 3rd November 2005, the government formally introduced Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005. The government promised that it will not rush to enact the legislation and Senate will have 3 weeks to conduct debate on the Bill.

Snapshots on anti-terrorism law

08/09/05: The Prime Minister announces a new anti-terrorism law will be introduced to the parliament. [view document]![join discussion]

27/09/05: The details of new counter-terrorism law were not made public. Community groups expressed concerned about the law.[view document]

27/09/05: State Premiers had signed onto the draft legislation. The Commonwealth Government still had not made public release of the draft law.[view document]

13/10/05: The Civil Liberty Council of NSW expressed concerns at the lack of transparency in the Anti-Terror Legislative process.[view document]

14/10/05: Chief Minister of A.C.T. had released the draft law without the consent of Commonwealth Government.[view document]

16/10/05: Law experts provided an assessment on the draft Anti-Terrorism Bill. A.C.T. Chief minister put this report on his website.[view document]

17/10/05: The Law Council of Australia and Opposition Party spokesman discussed about the new measures -- preventative detention and control orders -- introduced in the Anti-Terror Bill. [view document]

20/10/05: State Premiers expressed concerns about the new police power of 'shoot-to-kill' on suspects.[view document]

27/10/05: The HREOC urge the community to engage in debate about the impact of the new anti-terrorism law.[view document]

02/11/05: The government recall Senate and urgently introduced a 4 -page amendament to the existing terrorism law.[view document]

03/11/05: The government formally introduced the Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005 for debate. The Senate will have 3 more weeks to examine on this Bill. [view document]