Abuse of national security legislation

[David]

[stui magpie]

I think he may have a few points wrong there in regard to what they're looking for at least.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-05/ ... s/11181162

In regard to wanting journalists to play the game and shut up, entirely plausible.

[Deja Vu]

It’s not abuse of legislation if the legislation permits the behaviour.

[David]

Maybe not literally. But all of this legislation (backed by both major parties) has been sold as a means of keeping Australians safe from harm. Using those laws to then punish attempts to keep government accountable to the public is an abuse of process, and certainly an abuse of the principle under which the laws were promoted.

Of course, some warned that this was precisely what would happen if this kind of “national security” policy was made law. But not enough people cared then. Hopefully a few more will be paying attention now.

[Deja Vu]

Agreed. I’m OK with giving up some things in the name of public safety, but this legislation went too far. Someone was asleep at the wheel

[watt price tully]

Appalling behaviour. Makes Australia look like a second rate democracy....no wait....

The AFP need to be brought to task on this as do the PM, the undertaker Dutton and the oh so very Christian Porter.

[Jezza]

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Benjamin Franklin

[Wokko]

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6049089610001

[KenH]

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6049089610001

Should have stopped when I saw Sky news, did stop when I saw Chris Kenny!

[David]

Well, at least we now know (if we didn't already) who's the biggest Liberal Party plant and authoritarian suck-up in the media. Kenny provides no proof whatsoever that the sentences laid down for Richard Boyle's 66 charges would all be served concurrently as opposed to consecutively; we likewise can't be sure which of Julian Assange's 18 charges (totalling 175 years) would be served concurrently or consecutively, and anyone with a brain knows that, in his case, a life sentence is entirely plausible.

But otherwise, it seems that this nitpicking exercise is of greater concern to Kenny than the outrageous fact that people like Boyle are even facing any criminal proceedings at all. At least some of his right-wing colleagues at News Corp seem to have a basic understanding of what's at stake here.

[David]

Reported today that Witness K will plead guilty, whereas his lawyer continues to fight the case. Important to recognise that neither of these people have done anything wrong, and indeed have merely revealed Australia's criminal behaviour in Timor-Leste. So any prosecution that comes from this will be, of course, a grave injustice.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14329

I highly recommend listening to this 20-minute radio segment from the ABC, which goes into the case in great detail, particularly if you don't know much about the case. It really is the biggest national scandal of the decade:

https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgAV3Ela4G

[David]

[David]

The unjust pursuit of Bernard Collaery (merely for acting as a lawyer for a whistleblower who was acting in the public interest) is finally over:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal ... 5azuu.html

[watt price tully]

The unjust pursuit of Bernard Collaery (merely for acting as a lawyer for a whistleblower who was acting in the public interest) is finally over:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal ... 5azuu.html

Well done Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, this was a nasty and dark page in our history. Porter was a disgrace as AG and the pursuit of this man and witness K remains a stain. This represented the true nature of the Liberal
Party; there was simply no need. They cost the Australian Tax payer billions. They cost an older man his career and wrecked his life. This was political vindictive bastardry for what end?

We need to release the details of what Australia did wrong, of who was involved in the cover up and who was involved in the mendacious behaviours here. Witness K needs to be given his passport back and a public apology provided. Disclosure of the details to see who was responsible should be part of form of enquiry.

Now for Julian Assange. A different kettle of fish but he’s certainly been punished far too much and for far too long.