Return of the ASIO Bill is not welcome

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights today expressed concern at the return of the ASIO Bill to the Senate.

“The ASIO Bill is an attack on the human rights of Australians and their children,” said Simeon Beckett, a spokesperson for ALHR.

“The Bill continues to miss finding the balance between national security and citizen’s fundamental freedoms.

“After two major revisions the ASIO Bill still proposes allowing children to be arrested and detained solely for the collection of information about terrorism.

“It is in Australia’s interests to arrest someone’s 14 year old daughter, and to strip search and detain them for 7 days, only to get information on terrorism.”

“In the name of preventing terrorism this Bill provides lesser rights for Australian children with terrorism information than for juvenile murder suspects,” said Rice.

The ASIO Bill allows for adults to be held incommunicado for a period of 7 days not because they are suspects but because they might have information about a terrorism offence.

Contact with a family member or even a lawyer is discretionary. It is an offence for a detainee to refuse to answer questions asked.

“A person cannot challenge their arrest in a court of law because the police and ASIO can prevent access to a lawyer or family members.

“Incommunicado detention has been condemned internationally because it provides the opportunity for further human rights breaches to occur.

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This page last updated 4th May 2004