Are We Being Scared Into Handing Over Our Rights?
Fearmongering is a useful political tactic for governments desperate to pass controversial laws which might otherwise be perceived as unjust or irrational. The creation of fear of a perceived enemy - whether communists, fascists or terrorists – has signified the...
Should Families of Dead Terrorists be Allowed Back to Australia?
The following is a text message received by Australian grandmother Karen Nettleton from her 14-year-old granddaughter Zaynab, a child bride whose husband was killed fighting for a terrorist organisation in Syria: “Hello Nana, how are you? My husband got hit...
RIP Freedom of Speech
Many Australians believe that we can freely express what we think, without fear of prosecution. Indeed, freedom of speech has been part of our democratic tradition for generations. But a string of recent laws have chipped away at our right...
Terrorism Suspects to Have Their Citizenship Revoked
Politicians and media outlets regularly tell us that terrorism is the greatest threat to our Australian values and lifestyle - despite the fact that terrorist attacks occur relatively infrequently compared with other criminal offences. Nevertheless, suggestions that we are at...
Should We Ban Suspected Jihadists From Using the Internet?
Following the death of 18-year-old Victorian Jake Bilardi in March, there has been a great deal of discussion amongst politicians and police about how we should prevent ‘impressionable’ young Australians from being swayed to join extremist terrorist groups. Now, Victorian...
The US Winds Back Mass Surveillance Laws
People living in the United States are said to be some of the most watched on the planet, with the National Security Agency (NSA) ramping up mass surveillance following the events of September 11, 2001. The nation’s willingness to monitor...
The Boston Bomber Death Penalty: Justice?
On 15 April 2013, a terrorist act took place that would alter the images that come to mind when we hear of the Boston Marathon. Three people were killed and hundreds were injured when two pressure-cooker bombs used exploded near...
Accessing Your Own Metadata: Ben’s Battle
We previously published a series of blogs about the Federal Government’s controversial new metadata laws, which were passed by the Senate in March. The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2015 was premised on the notion that it...
What Happens If Police Damage My Property?
Recent changes to the law mean that police are getting more and more power. But fortunately, they cannot barge down your front door and come into your home without a legitimate reason. Police must have a legitimate reason come into...
Should Police and Media be Charged for Dangerous Leaks?
In January, six terrified people hid in the cool room of a Paris supermarket while a gunman prowled around the store, planning his next move. The gunman had already killed four people and taken others hostage. He didn’t know that...
