What Price Security?: Taking Stock of Australia's Anti-Terror Laws (Briefings)

In this timely and important book, Andrew Lynch and George Williams provide a clear and accessible guide to the major components of Australia’s anti-terrorism laws and their effects. They show readers: what constitutes a crime of terrorism in Australia, what powers our main intelligence agency has to question and detain members of the community, what happens when the authorities seek a control order or an order of preventative detention over an individual, what speech risks making a person liable for the crime of sedition, how judicial processes have been modified for the trial of people charged with terrorism offences Lynch and Williams have contributed vigorously to the public debate since September 11. In What Price Security? they argue that Australia has gone too far in limiting civil rights in the name of anti-terrorism. “In fighting the ‘war on terror’,” they write, “it is vital that we do not allow ourselves to become the victim of our own fears.” Australia's anti-terror laws are attracting renewed controversy as the legal system grapples with new crimes and the growing role of intelligence agencies. In just five years the Australian parliament has created 37 pieces of legislation dealing directly with terrorism - laws limiting freedom of speech and creating new categories of crime and new ways of dealing with suspects. With so much change in such a short time it is difficult for Australians to judge the impact on their freedoms or to understand how the law works. In this book Andrew Lynch and George Williams provide a clear and accessible guide to the key components of Australia's anti-terrorism laws.What Price Security? examines the new crimes of terrorism and the powers ASIO has to question and detain members of the community. It discusses sedition, control orders, preventative detention and how judicial processes have been modified to deal with terrorism offences. Andrew Lynch and George Williams have made major contributions to the public debate since September 11. In this book they examine whether Australia has gone too far in limiting democratic rights in the fight against terrorism. Provides A Clear And Accessible Guide To The Major Components Of Australia's Anti-terrorism Laws And Their Effects. Shows What Constitutes A Crime Of Terrorism In Australia, And What Happens When The Authorities Seek A Control Order Or An Order Of Preventative Detention Over An Individual. Crimes Of Terror -- Monitoring, Questioning And Detaining : Asio's New Powers -- Pre-emptive Policy : Preventative Detention And Control Orders -- Shades Of Gray : Freedom Of Speech -- Prosecuting Terrorists -- What Price Security? Andrew Lynch & George Williams. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 94-95).