Issue No 122 | 07 December 2001 | |
NewsUnion Concerned At New ASIO Powers
The head of a major union this week expressed concern today at proposals by the Federal Government to radically increase ASIO powers to seize assets and records of Australian organizations in the wake of September 11. CFMEU national secretary John Maitland says he believes the proposal was a massive breach of civil rights and that there was great potential to misuse such laws. The Government also proposes to legislate to give ASIO the power to detain without charge and interrogate without the presence of legal representation Australian citizens suspected of having "terrorist links". "If laws like this were around 20 years ago the CFMEU for example could have been destroyed as an organisation and its leaders detained for financially supporting Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress, who John Howard himself used to call "terrorists"," Maitland says. Similarly the CFMEU has a strong record of support for the Palestinian people and for the republican cause in Ireland. Both Gerry Adams and Yasser Arafat were once 'terrorists' who in fact went on to win Nobel Peace prizes and be lauded at the White House as visionary leaders of their peoples. "The tragedy of September 11 cannot be cynically misused by reactionary politicians as a pretext for creating a police state."
|
Interview: Reality Bytes Labor's IT spokeswoman Kate Lundy on how a third Howard Government will hurt the IT industry. Unions: My Way or the Highway Since 1997, workers employed by Serco/Great Southern Railways, have been locked in a struggle with their employer to have their choice of industrial instrument recognised. Legal: Three Degrees of Contract Marian Baird argues there is a need to more fully understand what workers, employers and our society expect from the employment relationship. International: Bogota Terror The assassination of a Colombian unionist has prompted international outrage. History: Freedom or 'Federation'? Mark Hearn and Greg Patmore argue that the journey to federation was not a one-way street. Health: Wearing the Right Genes to Work? Matt Brooks tracks the DNA trail to discover genetic testing in the workplace is already here. Satire: Demidenko Releases New Book About Her Life As Afghan Refugee Controversial author Helen Demidenko has written a brand new novel based on her gripping true life experiences as an Afghan refugee. Review: Can Blinky Bill Save Unions? Neale Towart browses the kiddies' shelves to find an Australian icon with a union-friendly message.
Notice Board View entire latest issue
|
© 1999-2000 Labor Council of NSW LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/122/news5_asio.htmlLast Modified: 15 Nov 2005 [ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ] LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW |