Archives for November 2012

Please accept my apologies for not being able to join you to mark this important occasion.  I have so much admiration and respect for your unwavering support for this issue. My thoughts go to Christine Assange, John Shipton and family.  Another Christmas looms without their son, brother, father and friend.  Words seem inadequate.  Thoughts and […]

The death of Roberto Laudisio is another tragic addition to the list of Taser related deaths in this country. Amnesty International has calculated that at least 500 people in the United States have died since 2001 after being shocked with Tasers, either during their arrest or while in jail. But just as the NSW State […]

Labor’s data retention plans are getting more convoluted with every attempted explanation. The government insists that it only needs metadata (not content), but is having a tough time explaining how this would work in practice, to the extent that the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security was still seeking clarification last week of what […]

6 November 2012 Dear Ms Tranter Thank you for your letter of 11 October 2012 to the Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding freedom of expression in the field of journalism.  I have been asked to reply to you on the Minister’s behalf. Australia is committed to promoting and protecting freedom of expression and opinion.  The […]

In August the Prime Minister announced that the COAG Review of Counter-Terrorism Legislation would specifically look at control orders, preventative detention and the emergency stop, question and search powers of police. Submissions to the COAG Review Committee have now closed and the Committee has to report within 6 months. But will the Review Committee fully […]