OZschwitz anti-terrorism laws are well past their use-by date

It is time to ask whether we need all our anti-terrorism laws. For example, should citizens not suspected of a crime be detained for up to a week for questioning by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation? Should books and movies be censored for their portrayal of terrorism? Should Australians be held without charge for up to 14 days and placed under a control order including house arrest without being convicted of a crime?

OZschwitz anti-terrorism laws are well past their use-by date Ebhandcuffslw2012081321

These are all possible under the 54 anti-terrorism laws enacted by federal Parliament after September 11, 2001. It was not surprising that our legislators responded to the loss of life with measures that challenged values such as freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial. Indeed, this was the pattern around the democratic world.

Australia was unusual though in how it restricted liberty and increased state power more than other similar nations. We also enacted so many laws that our response is viewed internationally as one of ''hyper-legislation''.

Other democratic nations have spent recent years revisiting matters such as the decision to go to war in Iraq and whether they overreacted in passing anti-terrorism laws. By contrast, such debates have to date passed Australia by.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/some-of-our-antiterrorism-laws-are-well-past-their-useby-date-20120813-244vf.html#ixzz23VHxs0tA

OZschwitz anti-terrorism laws are well past their use-by date

OZschwitz anti-terrorism laws are well past their use-by date

Anarcho-Capitalist Categorical Imperatives

Via AnCaps: Law & Enforced Unnatural Order