AMCRAN

Why is it that some are strong on, say, education, while others are stronger on political involvement? 

The long-awaited third edition of the publication series Anti-Terrorism Laws: ASIO, the Police and You in community languages will be launched on 17 July 2008 at 10 am by Dr Haneef's lawyer Mr Peter Russo.

This series of publications is designed to educate the community on their rights and responsibilities under Australia's counter-terrorism laws. It is presented in four languages: English, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, and Urdu. The third edition covers new areas of law introduced since the first edition in 2004, including the association offence, sedition, preventative detention and control orders. This publication is essential reading, and provides a concise, simple, yet thorough coverage of the laws that all Australians should be aware of and understand.

Wednesday 2 July will be 12 months since the Haneef case first brought the issues of anti-terror laws to the public eye in Queensland. On this day, Amnesty International Australia - Queensland and Northern NSW Region will host a forum to explore what has changed in the last 12 months and if there is potential for change with the new federal government.

Speakers include Ian Brown, Australian  Lawyers Alliance; Jacqui Ewart, Lecturer, Peter Applegarth, Qld Council of Liberties; and Sanmati Verma, AMCRAN.

Public Seminar New Anti-Terror Laws:

What do they mean for Muslim communities?

• What are the implications of these new anti-terror laws for the Muslim community?
• What do the new sedition offences mean?
• Will we still be allowed to say Iraqis have the right to resist occupation?
• Will we be allowed to comment on and criticise government policy?
• What impact do the new charity related offences have for people who may inadvertently give money to the wrong people, and what does it mean for my organisation?
• What about the new ability for the Government to ban organisations on the basis that they "advocate" terrorism?

Laws for Insecurity? was a public forum on Terrorism Laws held on 17 November 2005 at Melbourne University Law School.

"Laws are presently before federal Parliament that will give police unprecedented detention and search powers. These laws will also expand the government’s power to ban organisations and prosecute Australians who politically dissent. They pose profound questions for all Australians: Will these laws promote the safety of Australians? Will they, on the other hand, inflict insecurity on Australians by increasing the risk of racial and religious profiling? What will they mean for the health of Australia’s democracy and multiculturalism?"

AMCRAN co-convenor Amir Butler was among a host of distinguished speakers including Petro Georgiou, MP, Professor George Williams, Gilbert & Tobin Centre for Public Law, University of New South Wales and Chair, Victorian Human Rights Consultation Committee, Victoria Sentas, Spokesperson on terrorism laws, Federation of Community Legal Centres, and Joo-Cheong Tham, Lecturer, Law Faculty, University of Melbourne and Committee Member, Liberty Victoria.