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MEDIA RELEASE: Release of New Booklet Stunted by New Anti-Terror Laws
Sydney, 8 December 2005 - The release of a new booklet on the government's anti-terrorism legislation has been stunted by the Senate passing new anti-terror laws this week.
Anti-terrorism Laws: ASIO, the Police and You is a joint production of AMCRAN and the UTS Community Law Centre. It is the second edition in as many years that explains people's rights and responsibilities under the anti-terror laws.
"Whilst the government has rushed through raft of new laws, it has done little to inform the community about how these new laws could effect them," said Agnes Chong, Co-Convenor of the Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network (AMCRAN), "By publishing this booklet we have attempted to address an issue that the government seems unwilling to tackle: the education of the general public."
The rate at which the government has introduced new laws has alarmed civil liberties groups and respected senior members of the legal profession including the Law Council of Australia and made it impossible to effectively educate community members about complex and rapidly evolving legislation. "The speed with which these laws are passing is very alarming. It has left absolutely no room for debate," warned Ms. Chong.
"The first edition was out of date before it was launched; the second edition was due to be launched November this year, but already needs to be amended before it has even been printed. It is glaringly obvious that there has been no proper consideration about these laws at all."
The second edition of the booklet, which does not cover the latest amendments such as control orders, preventative detention, police stop question and search powers, and the controversial sedition offences, will be available on the websites of AMCRAN (http://amcran.org) and UTS Community Law Centre from Thursday 8 December 2005.
For more information, contact:
Agnes Chong
achong@amcran.org
http://amcran.org
Download Media Release.
Download Anti-Terrorism Laws: ASIO, the Police and You, second edition
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