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Withdraw the Stop and Search Bill

From the newswire: WA's proposed stop and search laws will only lead to an increase in vulnerable people being targeted by police, according to the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA). ALSWA is concerned that a further increase in police powers will see our most disadvantaged targeted. "Aboriginal people in this state are already over-policed and over-represented within the court and prison systems, and it is our people who will feel the impact..." The Equal Opportunity Commission, the Law Society have also expressed concern. In its submission to the Criminal Investigation Amendment Bill 2009 (Stop and Search Laws) Inquiry, ALSWA said "the proposed laws will disproportionately impact on vulnerable groups and constitute serious violations of Australia's obligations under international human rights law". The Law Society say that: "Giving Police the power to conduct searches on people and their vehicles without requiring them to have any suspicion that an offence has been committed will result in thousands of completely law abiding citizens being inconvenienced and having their privacy violated," says Society President Hylton Quail. Greens MP Alison Xamon says the entire basis for the laws has been undermined. Ms Xamon says the evidence shows the laws are designed to make the Government appear tough on crime. "There has been no evidence put forward that this legislation is going to work." Ms Xamon says police already have very similar powers. READ MORE/Comment

Lack of government support for Ward family a disgrace

FEB 3, 2010: From the newswire: More than two years after the tragic death of respected Indigenous Elder Mr Ward, his widow and sons have still not received any support from the state government. Mr Ward, a 46 year old Warburton community elder, died from heat stroke after being transported from Laverton to Kalgoorlie in January 2008. The air temperature in the back of his prison van was over 50 degrees Celsius. The air-conditioning in the rear of the van was not working. Mr Ward suffered third-degree burns when his skin came into contact with a hot metal surface in the back of the van. GSL staff had concerns about the condition of a prison van, used to transport Mr Ward. GSL is contracted by the WA government to provide prisoner transport services and by the federal government to run immigration detention camps and transport immigration detainees and prisoners. The Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA) says it is a disgrace that this matter must be addressed as a matter of urgency. ALSWA is seeking an ex-gratia payment on behalf of the family in light of the Coroner's findings following the death of Mr. Ward. "It's time for the state government to stop blaming others for their own lack of action in this matter..." "Two years, and too little action. The DICWC calls on the State Government to act now to prevent future deaths in custody and ensure Mr Ward gets justice." say Deaths in Custody Watch Committee. READ MORE/Comment

Mass Tamil Asylum Seeker Protest on Xmas Island

From the newswire: In scenes reminiscent of Woomera, Port Hedland and Baxter, under the Howard government, a mass protest by Tamil detainees at Christmas Island began at 4.30pm on Thursday, 27 January. The protest is supported by all the Tamils detainees, with over 350 asylum seekers involved, but, "We are hopeful that the Kurdish, Iranians and Arabs people will join us," a Christmas Island detainee said. Around 60 asylum seekers began marching around the path inside the detention with placards. Despite threats from immigration management, the detainees were refusing to return to their compounds as the protest continued overnight. The protest coincides with the visit to the island by Senator Fielding and Opposition spokesperson on immigration, Scott Morrison. "People are sick and tired of waiting so long for their the applications to be processed. There are scores of Tamils now who have been waiting for six months and much longer..." said Ian Rintoul, of the Refugee Action Coalition. "They are also angry at the people being charged for last year's so-called riot and being put into the Red Compound management units. Australian of the year, Professor Patrick McGorry, was right when he called detention centres 'factories for mental illness'. Perhaps Julia Gillard and Chris Evans will face up to the fact that Christmas Island is just as much a mental illness factory as Woomera or Baxter." There will be more protests in the days ahead. The protest also comes after detainees were told that under a new rule, management would no longer allow detainees to have mobile phones. Detainees in mainland detention centres are allowed to have mobile phones, and Christmas Island detainees have been allowed to have phones for months. READ MORE/Comment...

Christmas Island Detention Centre a "ticking time bomb"

From the newswire January 27, 2010 - Breaking news from Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre Asylum seeker's phones confiscated, banned Harmless detainees held in isolation cells Number of long-term detainees rapidly increasing Christmas Island detention centre seriously overcrowded News from Christmas Island that mobile phones - sent to many detainees by Australian Refugee Rights advocates - have been confiscated and banned by Immigration Department officials, says WA human rights group Project SafeCom. According to advocates, the decision to ban phones is linked to negative media reports based on phone contacts with detainees about a meeting between Sri Lankan asylum seekers and DIAC after tensions had arisen. The move has been dubbed "a return to the days of the Howard government." At least 11 detainees have been placed in isolation cells since they were last week charged in relation to a riot. This is clearly a punitive regime where the declaration of 'guilty' goes before the presumption of innocence: advocates have reported to Project SafeCom that at least two of those charged were not involved in the riot. The number of detainees whose case assessment cannot be completed within the preferred time frame of 90 days is steadily increasing, with some inmates approaching the ominous one-year detention term, while the centre is dangerously overcrowded. "The Christmas Island detention centre is rapidly becoming a time bomb..." READ MORE/Comment

Your Internet connection will be censored

YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION WILL BE CENSORED - In 2010, the Rudd Government will introduce a new law requiring Internet service providers to filter all Internet connections, including yours. MORE DETAILS: NO CLEAN FEED || EFA Despite, the goal of the Government filter to "protect the children", the filter will only serve to give parents a false sense of security. It will not block the vast majority of sites unsuitable for children, nor mitigate the other, more serious risks facing children online such as cyber-bullying. The list of sites to be blocked will be secret and closed to public review. It comes with no guarantees about how it might be expanded. This plan will waste tens of millions of taxpayer dollars and will not make anyone safer. Concerned? You can help! TAKE ACTION! || READ MORE/Comment

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