The federal Labor opposition's cave-in over the federal government's draconian ASIO bill is a dangerous mistake, warned John Van der Velden, a national co-convener of the Socialist Alliance on June 27.

“In the name of fighting terrorism, ASIO is now going to be given the power to detain indefinitely people who have committed no crime and are not even suspected of committing a crime.

“The experience of the labour movement is that every increase in repressive police powers is an attack on our democratic rights. We have good reason to worry that these new secret police powers may soon be used on striking workers, protesters and journalists”, Van der Velden added.

From Green Left Weekly, July 2, 2003.
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