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| Down Under |
| Oz wants terror laws before christmas |
| 2005-10-22 |
| RESTRICTIONS on terrorist suspects could be imposed before Christmas, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says. While the Federal Government is working on new anti-terrorism laws, Mr Ruddock said the "control orders" would be used as soon as the legislation was passed in December. The laws could force people to wear tracking devices, prevent them using the telephone or email, ban them from working and communicating with others, and impose curfews. Speaking to the Sunday Age from France, where he attending a counter-terrorism meeting, Mr Ruddock said control orders could also apply to people other than terrorists. "If there is available evidence and the measures are passed, I would expect that competent authorities would move on those matters at the first available opportunity," he said. "Does that mean it could happen before Christmas? Of course it means it could happen before Christmas." But Mr Ruddock said he had "no say in relation to operational issues" of the federal police and ASIO. "We wouldn't be seeking the power if we didn't believe that there were circumstances in which it may be appropriate for it to be used," he said. "It's quite clear we are aware of people who have trained with terrorist organisations, and you can work safely on the assumption that there are other people who may not have trained (with terrorist organisations) who may be of concern. "Those are matters in which if there is evidence, appropriate authorities take it to a court and seek the orders." A new version of the legislation was given to the states on Friday and Mr Ruddock has been negotiating safeguards with the coalition backbench committee. Prime Minister John Howard wants government MPs to approve the legislation on Melbourne Cup day (Tuesday week) and to have it pass through both houses of Parliament before sittings end for the year on December 8. Mr Ruddock told the Sunday Age that control orders would give police and security agencies "a better handle on being able to know what people are doing, where they are and what they might be engaged in". "The control orders enable us to put restrictions on where people might go. It might be a restriction that prevents somebody from travelling interstate. "If you had people who were going into a rural area and engaging in some form of training, it would be containing their ability to go to regions like that It might be there are certain people you don't want them to talk to." |
| Posted by:God Save The World AKA Oztralian |