blatant propaganda article:

Anti-Terrorism Legislation: on May 14 2002, will Australia become a police state? Help stop it - with 2 quick emails!

Details: the Senate of the Australian Government is set to vote on draconian new 'anti-terrorism' legislation that will severely curtail your democratic rights. It will:

Allow authorities to detain you for up to 48 hours without charge and without access to a lawyer. You will not even need to be suspected of terrorism. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) might simply believe you have information that would help them with their inquiries (perhaps a jealous neighbour or associate told them this).
Erase your right to silence under interrogation. The Attorney General has stated that people under arrest could face up to five years in jail for exercising their right to silence.
Shift ASIO from being a spy agency to secret police, effectively turning Australia into a police state.
The legislation will also allow the Government sweeping new powers to ban political organisations. Anyone who opposes government policies could easily be branded "terrorist" and banned.

Again, such powers would NOT be restricted to those suspected of terrorism. It includes provisions penalising whistleblowers and anyone who might have information regarding politically motivated violence. The Attorney General has said this could include lawyers, journalists and politicians (which potentially means their associates too).

In the words of several Australian politicians:

Senator Bob Brown: "The laws are an affront to an open and democratic society." Senator Brown predicts that unless enough people contact the politicians, that Labor politicians, whose vote will decide this issue, will vote with the government (as they did when they voted to give the army the power to shoot Australian civilians)

Senator John Faulkner: "Australians need to think very carefully about expanding the powers of a Government that has so often abused its responsibilities and power."

Senator Vicki Bourne: "Among the proposed measures is the creation of an offence of 'terrorism'. The Government's proposed definition of terrorism is incredibly broad, and could catch a range of political activities not remotely connected to terrorism. The exceptions for advocacy, protest, dissent and industrial action are totally inadequate. It is dangerous to assume that no future government will use these excessively broad powers to suppress opposition and dissent... The bills also take the unprecedented step of imposing absolute liability in relation to offences carrying life imprisonment. Such offences include possessing a 'thing' connected with a terrorist act. The effect is that people may be convicted of terrorism offences where they had no intention to assist terrorists or participate in terrorist acts... These bills are an attack on some fundamental democratic principles... It is vital that in defending democracy, we do not compromise the very ideals we are seeking to preserve."

Duncan Kerr, MP: "The Bills were ... rammed through the House of Representatives in a gagged debate lasting only a few hours in the last week of the autumn sitting... Many members of the House, on both sides, wanting to express considered reservations [about the legislation] were excluded from expressing their concerns." His full article is available as a downloadable Word document

For more background information see http://www.greens.org.au/bobbrown/terror1.htm

Also, check out the discussion board at http://www.topica.com/lists/TerrorLaws/read for updated news and information.

What YOU can do - LOTS - with just 1 or 2 e-mails.

1/. Copy all the text in this e-mail and e-mail it to every Australian you know.

2/. Very important: E-mail the politicians and let them know what you think (use the convenient e-mail list at the bottom of this page) and state your opposition to this proposed legislation. All you need to write is something short like:

SUBJECT: Please vote AGAINST the draconian "terrorist" legislation.
Dear Member of Parliament,

Please vote against the fundamentally anti-democratic "terrorist" legislation. Amongst other things, I am greatly concerned by the proposals that: 1/. The government/Attorney-General would have the power to ban organisations. 2/. That people can be detained without legal representation or the right to silence under interrogation 3/. That ASIO will in effect become a secret police force. Overall, the definition of terrorism contained in the various bills is too broad in scope. I trust that as a democratic representative of the Australian people, you and your party will protect our democratic rights and vote against this draconian legislation. Any conspiracy to commit criminal acts can be addressed by the existing criminal law.
Yours Sincerely,
INSERT NAME HERE

Politician telephone numbers:

If you would like to telephone the politicians (we pay their wages - the least they can do is listen), see the following 2 web-pages for their phone numbers:
* Senators via http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/los.pdf
* House of Representatives (phone, e-mail, postal details) via htttp://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/download/SurnameRepsHTML.htm

Remember, you have only a few days in which to make your opinion seen, heard and felt.

Politicans E-mail addresses:

Just select and copy all of these below e-mail addresses (House of Representatives and the Senate) and put them in your "To" or preferably the "BCC" field (this hides all the e-mail addresses from each recipient).

E-mail List - format 1 of 2:

E-mail List - format 2 of 2:

"Abetz Hon E" <[email protected]>, "Allison L" <[email protected]>, "Alston Hon R" <[email protected]>, "Barnett G" <[email protected]>, "Bartlett A" <[email protected]>, "Bishop M" <[email protected]>, "Bolkus Hon N" <[email protected]>, "Boswell R" <[email protected]>, "Bourne V" <[email protected]>, "Brandis G" <[email protected]>, "Brown B" <[email protected]>, "Buckland G" <[email protected]>, "Calvert P" <[email protected]>, "Campbell G" <[email protected]>, "Campbell Hon I" <[email protected]>, " Carr K" <[email protected]>, "Chapman G" <[email protected]>, "Cherry J" <[email protected]>, "Colbeck R" <[email protected]>, "Collins J" <[email protected]>, "Conroy S" <[email protected]>, "Cook Hon P" <[email protected]>, "Coonan H" <[email protected]>, "Cooney B" <[email protected]>, "Crane W" <[email protected]>, "Crossin T" <[email protected]>, "Crowley Hon R" <[email protected]>, "Denman K" <[email protected]>, "Eggleston A" <[email protected]>, "Ellison Hon C" <[email protected]>, "Evans C" <[email protected]>, "Faulkner Hon J" <[email protected]>, "Ferguson A" <[email protected]>, "Ferris J" <[email protected]>, "Forshaw M" <[email protected]>, "Gibbs B" <[email protected]>, "Greig B" <[email protected]>, "Harradine B" <[email protected]>, "Harris L" <[email protected]>, "Heffernan Hon B" <[email protected]>, "Herron Hon J" <[email protected]>, "Hogg J" <[email protected]>, "Hutchins S" <[email protected]>, "Kemp Hon R" <[email protected]>, "Knowles S" <[email protected]>, "Lees M" <[email protected]>, "Lightfoot R" <[email protected]>, "Ludwig J" <[email protected]>, "Lundy K" <[email protected]>, "Macdonald Hon I" <[email protected]>, "Macdonald S" <[email protected]>, "Mackay S" <[email protected]>, "Mason B" <[email protected]>, "McGauran J" <[email protected]>, "McKiernan J" <[email protected]>, "McLucas J" <[email protected]>, "Minchin Hon N" <[email protected]>, "Murphy S" <[email protected]>, "Murray A" <[email protected]>, "O'Brien K" <[email protected]>, "Patterson K" <[email protected]>, "Payne M" <[email protected]>, "Ray R" <[email protected]>, "Reid Hon M" <[email protected]>, "Ridgeway A" <[email protected]>, "Schacht Hon C" <[email protected]>, "Scullion N G" <[email protected]>, "Sherry Hon N" <[email protected]>, "Stott Despoja N" <[email protected]>, "Tchen T" <[email protected]>, "Tierney J" <[email protected]>, "Troeth Hon J" <[email protected]>, "Watson J" <[email protected]>, "West S" <[email protected]>, "Abbott The Hon Tony Member for Warringah" <[email protected]>, "Adams The Hon Dick Member for Lyons" <[email protected]>, "Albanese Mr Anthony Member for Grayndler" <[email protected]>, "Anderson The Hon John Member for Gwydir" <[email protected]>, "Andren Mr Peter Member for Calare" <[email protected]>, "Andrew The Hon Neil Member for Wakefield" <[email protected]>, "Andrews The Hon Kevin Member for Menzies" <[email protected]>, "Anthony The Hon Larry Member for Richmond" <[email protected]>, "Bailey The Hon Fran Member for McEwen" <[email protected]>, "Baird The Hon Bruce Member for Cook" <[email protected]>, "Baldwin Mr Bob Member for Paterson" <[email protected]>, "Barresi Mr Phillip Member for Deakin" <[email protected]>, "Bartlett Mr Kerry Member for Macquarie" <[email protected]>, "Beazley The Hon Kim Member for Brand" <[email protected]>, "Bevis The Hon Arch Member for Brisbane" <[email protected]>, "Billson Mr Bruce Member for Dunkley" <[email protected]>, "Bishop Ms Julie Member for Curtin" <[email protected]>, "Bishop The Hon Bronwyn Member for Mackellar" <[email protected]>, "Brereton The Hon Laurie Member for Kingsford Smith"<[email protected]>, "Brough The Hon Mal Member for Longman" <[email protected]>, "Burke Ms Anna Member for Chisholm" <[email protected]>, "Byrne Mr Anthony Member for Holt" <[email protected]>, "Cadman The Hon Alan Member for Mitchell" <[email protected]>, "Cameron The Hon Ross Member for Parramatta" <[email protected]>, "Causley The Hon Ian Member for Page" <[email protected]>, "Charles Mr Bob Member for La Trobe" <[email protected]>, "Ciobo Mr Steven Member for Moncrieff" <[email protected]>, "Cobb Mr John Member for Parkes" <[email protected]>, "Corcoran Ms Ann Member for Isaacs" <[email protected]>, "Costello The Hon Peter Member for Higgins" <[email protected]>, "Cox Mr David Member for Kingston" <[email protected]>, "Crean The Hon Simon Member for Hotham" <[email protected]>, "Crosio The Hon Janice Member for Prospect" <[email protected]>, "Danby Mr Michael Member for Melbourne Ports" <[email protected]>, "Downer The Hon Alexander Member for Mayo" <[email protected]>, "Draper Mrs Trish Member for Makin" <[email protected]>, "Dutton Mr Peter Member for Dickson" <[email protected]>, "Edwards The Hon Graham Member for Cowan" <[email protected]>, "Ellis Ms Annette Member for Canberra" <[email protected]>, "Elson Mrs Kay Member for Forde" <[email protected]>, "Emerson Mr Craig Member for Rankin" <[email protected]>, "Entsch The Hon Warren Member for Leichhardt" <[email protected]>, "Evans Mr Martyn Member for Bonython" <[email protected]>, "Farmer Mr Pat Member for Macarthur" <[email protected]>, "Ferguson Mr Laurie Member for Reid" <[email protected]>, "Ferguson Mr Martin Member for Batman" <[email protected]>, "Fitzgibbon Mr Joel Member for Hunter" <[email protected]>, "Forrest Mr John Member for Mallee" <[email protected]>, "Gallus The Hon Christine Member for Hindmarsh" <[email protected]>, "Gambaro Ms Teresa Member for Petrie" <[email protected]>, "Gash Mrs Joanna Member for Gilmore" <[email protected]>, "George Ms Jennie Member for Throsby" <[email protected]>, "Georgiou Mr Petro Member for Kooyong" <[email protected]>, "Gibbons Mr Steve Member for Bendigo" <[email protected]>, "Gillard Ms Julia Member for Lalor" <[email protected]>, "Grierson Ms Sharon Member for Newcastle" <[email protected]>, "Griffin Mr Alan Member for Bruce" <[email protected]>, "Haase Mr Barry Member for Kalgoorlie" <[email protected]>, "Hall Ms Jill Member for Shortland" <[email protected]>, "Hardgrave The Hon Gary Member for Moreton" <[email protected]>, "Hartsuyker Mr Luke Member for Cowper" <[email protected]>, "Hatton Mr Michael Member for Blaxland" <[email protected]>, "Hawker Mr David Member for Wannon" <[email protected]>, "Hoare Ms Kelly Member for Charlton" <[email protected]>, "Hockey The Hon Joe Member for North Sydney" <[email protected]>, "Hull Mrs Kay Member for Riverina" <[email protected]>, "Hunt Mr Greg Member for Flinders" <[email protected]>, "Irwin Mrs Julia Member for Fowler" <[email protected]>, "Jackson Ms Sharryn Member for Hasluck" <[email protected]>, "Jenkins Mr Harry Member for Scullin" <[email protected]>, "Johnson Mr Michael Member for Ryan" <[email protected]>, "Jull The Hon David Member for Fadden" <[email protected]>, "Katter The Hon Robert Member for Kennedy" <[email protected]>, "Kelly Mrs De-Anne Member for Dawson" <[email protected]>, "Kelly The Hon Jackie Member for Lindsay" <[email protected]>, "Kemp The Hon Dr David Member for Goldstein" <[email protected]>, "Kerr The Hon Duncan Member for Denison" <[email protected]>, "King Mr Peter Member for Wentworth" <[email protected]>, "King Ms Catherine Member for Ballarat" <[email protected]>, "Latham Mr Mark Member for Werriwa" <[email protected]>, "Lawrence The Hon Dr Carmen Member for Fremantle" <[email protected]>, "Ley Mrs Sussan Member for Farrer" <[email protected]>, "Lindsay Mr Peter Member for Herbert" <[email protected]>, "Livermore Ms Kirsten Member for Capricornia" <[email protected]>, "Lloyd Mr Jim Member for Robertson" <[email protected]>, "Macfarlane The Hon Ian Member for Groom" <[email protected]>, "Macklin Ms Jenny Member for Jagajaga" <[email protected]>, "Martin The Hon Dr Stephen Member for" <Cunningham [email protected]>, "May Mrs Margaret Member for McPherson" <[email protected]>, "McArthur Mr Stewart Member for Corangamite" <[email protected]>, "McClelland Mr Robert Member for Barton" <[email protected]>, "McFarlane Ms Jann Member for Stirling" <[email protected]>, "McGauran The Hon Peter Member for Gippsland" <[email protected]>, "McLeay The Hon Leo Member for Watson" <[email protected]>, "McMullan The Hon Bob Member for Fraser" <[email protected]>, "Melham Mr Daryl Member for Banks" <[email protected]>, "Mossfield Mr Frank Member for Greenway" <[email protected]>, "Moylan The Hon Judi Member for Pearce" <[email protected]>, "Murphy Mr John Member for Lowe" <[email protected]>, "Nairn Mr Gary Member for Eden-Monaro" <[email protected]>, "Nelson The Hon Dr Brendan Member for Bradfield" <[email protected]>, "Neville Mr Paul Member for Hinkler" <[email protected]>, "O'Byrne Ms Michelle Member for Bass" <[email protected]>, "O'Connor Mr Brendan Member for Burke" <Brendan.O'[email protected]>, "O'Connor Mr Gavan Member for Corio" <[email protected]>, "Panopoulos Ms Sophie Member for Indi" <[email protected]>, "Pearce Mr Chris Member for Aston" <[email protected]>, "Plibersek Ms Tanya Member for Sydney" <[email protected]>, "Price The Hon Roger Member for Chifley" <[email protected]>, "Prosser The Hon Geoffrey Member for Forrest" <[email protected]>, "Pyne Mr Christopher Member for Sturt" <[email protected]>, "Quick Mr Harry Member for Franklin" <[email protected]>, "Randall Mr Don Member for Canning" <[email protected]>, "Ripoll Mr Bernie Member for Oxley" <[email protected]>, "Roxon Ms Nicola Member for Gellibrand" <[email protected]>, "Rudd Mr Kevin Member for Griffith" <[email protected]>, "Sawford Mr Rodney Member for Port Adelaide" <[email protected]>, "Schultz Mr Alby Member for Hume" <[email protected]>, "Sciacca The Hon Con Member for Bowman" <[email protected]>, "Scott The Hon Bruce Member for Maranoa" <[email protected]>, "Secker Mr Patrick Member for Barker" <[email protected]>, "Sercombe Mr Bob Member for Maribyrnong" <[email protected]>, " Sidebottom Mr Sid Member for Braddon" <[email protected]>, "Slipper The Hon Peter Member for Fisher" <[email protected]>, "Smith Mr Stephen Member for Perth" <[email protected]>, "Smith Mr Tony Member for Casey" <[email protected]>, "Snowdon The Hon Warren Member for Lingiari" <[email protected]>, "Somlyay The Hon Alexander Member for Fairfax" <[email protected]>, "Southcott Dr Andrew Member for Boothby" <[email protected]>, "Stone The Hon Dr Sharman Member for Murray" <[email protected]>, "Swan Mr Wayne Member for Lilley" <[email protected]>, "Tanner Mr Lindsay Member for Melbourne" <[email protected]>, "Thompson Mr Cameron Member for Blair" <[email protected]>, "Thomson Mr Kelvin Member for Wills" <[email protected]>, " Ticehurst Mr Ken Member for Dobell" <[email protected]>, "Tollner Mr David Member for Solomon" <[email protected]>, "Truss The Hon Warren Member for Wide Bay" <[email protected]>, "Tuckey The Hon Wilson Member for O'Connor" <[email protected]>, "Vaile The Hon Mark Member for Lyne" <[email protected]>, "Vale The Hon Danna Member for Hughes" <[email protected]>, "Vamvakinou Ms Maria Member for Calwell" <[email protected]>, " Wakelin Mr Barry Member for Grey" <[email protected]>, "Washer Dr Mal Member for Moore" <[email protected]>, " Wilkie Mr Kim Member for Swan" <[email protected]>, "Williams The Hon Daryl Member for Tangney" <[email protected]>, " Windsor Mr Tony Member for New England" <[email protected]>, "Worth The Hon Trish Member for Adelaide" <[email protected]>, "Zahra Mr Christian Member for McMillan" <[email protected]>

Article by j. citizen of blatant propaganda.