Australia's anti-terrorism laws were rushed through our parliament and mistakes were made. Senator Scott Ludlam has introduced a Bill to the Senate to repeal the extreme parts of the anti-terrorism laws that compromise our human rights, civil rights and right to a fair trial. 

The Greens Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill 2009 identifies parts of the laws that must go because they undermine our core democratic principles.

You can make your voice heard to the Attorney General about rolling back the anti-terror laws.

The laws:

• Use definitions that are simply too vague and broad such as the bizarre "reckless possession of a thing";
• Punish dissent and deterring freedom of expression and association through the crime of sedition;
• Stop the clock through ‘dead time', which unreasonably extends the time that people can be questioned without charge. The Haneef case is an example of what happens when safeguard and time limits are removed from the law.
• Put up barriers to fair and open trials by imposing silence on lawyers or requiring them to have to have security clearances which significantly limits the pool of lawyers permitted to act in cases;

Now is the time for a thorough, calm and considered debate about methods for dealing with terrorism that are consistent with Australian values and strengthen our democracy. The government is about to begin the appointment of the long-awaited independent reviewer of terrorism laws, but their time need not be wasted on the draconian measures amended or repealed in this Bill.

What you can do:

• Write to the Attorney General today and ask him to support the measures in this bill.
• Read the Second Reading Speech which outlines the rationale and main provisions of the bill.
• Read the Explanatory Memorandum which sets out in detail the actual workings of the bill.