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NSW Terror Bill Will Face Vote At Every Stage
November 28th 2005


NSW Democrat MLC, Dr. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans has re-issued his call for the NSW Parliament to reject the proposed new terror legislation, and will be forcing the legislation to a vote at each stage.

"I'll be calling upon all those, who have expressed private or public doubts, to join me on the dissenting side of the house. This is absolutely the last chance to prove that this parliament has any credibility as an instrument of a democratic state," said Dr. Chesterfield Evans.

Dr. Chesterfield-Evans has received advice from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) which has recommended that the NSW legislation be delayed, until the debate upon the federal legislation has concluded. PIAC has also raised issues that indicate that the current NSW legislation also leaves much to be desired.

"While there are some important safeguards put in place by the NSW legislation, such as the involvement of the judiciary in issuing these appalling detention orders, we have also been advised that there are some significant concerns about many other aspects of the NSW bill. Especially with regard to minors," he said.

The Senate Committee investigating federal legislation, and has handed down 51 recommendations that they feel must be implemented if the bill is to pass. Dr. Chesterfield-Evans has expressed opposition to the Provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005, as well as the NSW Terrorism (Police Powers) Amendment (Preventative Detention) Bill 2005, because of their failure to meet democratic standards.

"The problems we are seeing with these bills should be a wake-up call. Good law is law that applies to everyone. If people are telling themselves that it's okay to ignore basic human rights for one group, then we have moved a step closer to losing them for everybody. If we do not defend these rights, if we, in fact, do everything in our power to erode them, then we have done the terrorists work for them," he concluded.

Additional materials:

Federal Senate Committee Report Provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005 Proposed
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/terrorism/report/b01.htm

PIAC Press Release:
http://www.piac.asn.au/news/media/20051128_callnswgov.html