Rule-of-law RIP
So much for the president of the United States last week said were, ' the presumption of innocence, due process and a fair trial...'
How could a fair trial be held after these statements?
Howard suggests raids vindicate laws rush
The Federal Government say new anti-terrorism laws passed by federal Parliament last week helped to make today's raids possible.
Sixteen people were arrested in raids conducted by more than 400 police on a number of suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne overnight.
Last week, Parliament passed the amendments to the existing anti-terrorism laws after Prime Minister John Howard revealed "specific intelligence" about a potential attack.
The change makes it easier to prosecute people thought to be planning terrorist strikes.
Prime Minister John Howard has suggested the raids have vindicated the decision to rush through the legislation.
Mr Howard says the Government received advice that it needed to strengthen the capacity of authorities to respond to a threat.
"At all the times I have tried to do the right thing by the Australian people," he said.
"When it comes to the safety of the Australian people and the security of this country there is no room for political manipulation and I have not sought to do that in relation to this issue and I will not in the future."
Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says the new laws made the arrests possible.
"There are potentially a range of charges, some of which may be dependent on the amendments we passed last week," Mr Ruddock said.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says Labor's support was crucial to the passage of the law.
"The single amendment that passed through the federal Parliament last week with the support of the Opposition played some role at least in the character in the charges being laid," he said.
"The Labor Party will always act in the interests of national security."
Premiers' support
The premiers of New South Wales and Victoria agree the new laws assisted in today's raids.
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has told Southern Cross Radio that the raids would not have been possible without the new law.
"The result of that has been the ability to disrupt this activity, [which is] probably the most serious preparation for a terrorist attack that we've seen in Australia," he said.
New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma says the raids show the need to be vigilant.
"Today's events leave us in no doubt at all of the need to be vigilant and unceasing in our efforts against the threat of terrorism," he said.
"That threat is real and dangerous."
New South Wales Police Minister Carl Scully had to give approval for his state's counter-terrorism laws to be used for the first time.
He says he was satisfied the state was under imminent threat.
"Thankfully the police forces of this country might just have prevented a catastrophic act of terrorism in this country," he said.
Timing questioned
Democrats leader Senator Lyn Allision has suggested Mr Howard may have played a role in the timing of the raids.
"It's not beyond the possibility that he would say to the state police commissioner, 'is there not a raid that could take place at this time to justify it'," she said.
But Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce is adamant the Government has been vindicated.
"I think there's a clear connection between the laws that have been passed by the Senate and its effect," he said.
Other Government MPs have attacked the minor parties for accusing the Government of playing politics.
Greens Senator Bob Brown was highly critical of the decision to recall the Senate last week to pass an amendment to the counter-terror laws.
Senator Brown accused the Government of concocting the urgency for political purposes.
Liberal backbencher and fellow Tasmanian, Michael Ferguson, says the Senator should either withdraw his statements or quit his seat.
"There's only one person in last week's debate on the need for changing and improving our anti-terrorism capabilities who's done the right thing and that's the Prime Minister John Howard," he said.
"People like [Senator] Bob Brown who lead the Australian Greens don't deserve a seat in this place - their behaviour last week was disgraceful."
In other developments:
* A Melbourne court has been told a number of men charged with terrorism offences had been discussing martyrdom and suicide bombings. (Full Story)
* Senior police say a man they shot in Sydney's south-west this morning was a suspect in the counter-terrorism raids. (Full Story)
* The police chiefs of New South Wales and Victoria say overnight raids have foiled a terrorist plot. (Full Story)
* The Muslim community has reacted with surprise at the overnight counter-terrorism raids, in which 16 people have been arrested. (Full Story)
How could a fair trial be held after these statements?
Howard suggests raids vindicate laws rush
The Federal Government say new anti-terrorism laws passed by federal Parliament last week helped to make today's raids possible.
Sixteen people were arrested in raids conducted by more than 400 police on a number of suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne overnight.
Last week, Parliament passed the amendments to the existing anti-terrorism laws after Prime Minister John Howard revealed "specific intelligence" about a potential attack.
The change makes it easier to prosecute people thought to be planning terrorist strikes.
Prime Minister John Howard has suggested the raids have vindicated the decision to rush through the legislation.
Mr Howard says the Government received advice that it needed to strengthen the capacity of authorities to respond to a threat.
"At all the times I have tried to do the right thing by the Australian people," he said.
"When it comes to the safety of the Australian people and the security of this country there is no room for political manipulation and I have not sought to do that in relation to this issue and I will not in the future."
Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says the new laws made the arrests possible.
"There are potentially a range of charges, some of which may be dependent on the amendments we passed last week," Mr Ruddock said.
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says Labor's support was crucial to the passage of the law.
"The single amendment that passed through the federal Parliament last week with the support of the Opposition played some role at least in the character in the charges being laid," he said.
"The Labor Party will always act in the interests of national security."
Premiers' support
The premiers of New South Wales and Victoria agree the new laws assisted in today's raids.
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has told Southern Cross Radio that the raids would not have been possible without the new law.
"The result of that has been the ability to disrupt this activity, [which is] probably the most serious preparation for a terrorist attack that we've seen in Australia," he said.
New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma says the raids show the need to be vigilant.
"Today's events leave us in no doubt at all of the need to be vigilant and unceasing in our efforts against the threat of terrorism," he said.
"That threat is real and dangerous."
New South Wales Police Minister Carl Scully had to give approval for his state's counter-terrorism laws to be used for the first time.
He says he was satisfied the state was under imminent threat.
"Thankfully the police forces of this country might just have prevented a catastrophic act of terrorism in this country," he said.
Timing questioned
Democrats leader Senator Lyn Allision has suggested Mr Howard may have played a role in the timing of the raids.
"It's not beyond the possibility that he would say to the state police commissioner, 'is there not a raid that could take place at this time to justify it'," she said.
But Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce is adamant the Government has been vindicated.
"I think there's a clear connection between the laws that have been passed by the Senate and its effect," he said.
Other Government MPs have attacked the minor parties for accusing the Government of playing politics.
Greens Senator Bob Brown was highly critical of the decision to recall the Senate last week to pass an amendment to the counter-terror laws.
Senator Brown accused the Government of concocting the urgency for political purposes.
Liberal backbencher and fellow Tasmanian, Michael Ferguson, says the Senator should either withdraw his statements or quit his seat.
"There's only one person in last week's debate on the need for changing and improving our anti-terrorism capabilities who's done the right thing and that's the Prime Minister John Howard," he said.
"People like [Senator] Bob Brown who lead the Australian Greens don't deserve a seat in this place - their behaviour last week was disgraceful."
In other developments:
* A Melbourne court has been told a number of men charged with terrorism offences had been discussing martyrdom and suicide bombings. (Full Story)
* Senior police say a man they shot in Sydney's south-west this morning was a suspect in the counter-terrorism raids. (Full Story)
* The police chiefs of New South Wales and Victoria say overnight raids have foiled a terrorist plot. (Full Story)
* The Muslim community has reacted with surprise at the overnight counter-terrorism raids, in which 16 people have been arrested. (Full Story)
posted by professor rat at 8:28 PM
<< Home