The Thought Police Draw Nearer
We have travelled another step down Orwell’s dark road towards totalitarianism.
The Palpatine-esque “emergency powers” which were rushed through parliament at the end of last year have been invoked during a secret trial in Canberra over the weekend.
For former taxi driver Joseph Thomas, or “Jihad Jack” as the in-no-way-trying-to-be-sensationalist-quality-broadsheet-publication SMH likes to call him, no warning was given. No trial was held. No crime was committed. The men in blue simply drove down to interrupt his family holiday, gave him the papers, and escorted him back to his family home.
So let’s take a look at the relevant section of the Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005, Schedule 4, Part 1, Clause 24.
24 After Division 103 of the Criminal Code
Insert:
Division 104—Control orders
…
104.5 Terms of an interim control order
…
- The obligations, prohibitions and restrictions that the court may impose on the person by the order are the following:
- a prohibition or restriction on the person being at specified areas or places;
- a prohibition or restriction on the person leaving Australia;
- a requirement that the person remain at specified premises between specified times each day, or on specified days;
- a requirement that the person wear a tracking device;
- a prohibition or restriction on the person communicating or associating with specified individuals;
- a prohibition or restriction on the person accessing or using specified forms of telecommunication or other technology (including the Internet);
- a prohibition or restriction on the person possessing or using specified articles or substances;
- a prohibition or restriction on the person carrying out specified activities (including in respect of his or her work or occupation);
- a requirement that the person report to specified persons at specified times and places;
- a requirement that the person allow himself or herself to be photographed;
- a requirement that the person allow impressions of his or her fingerprints to be taken;
- a requirement that the person participate in specified counselling or education.
Let’s have a quick look at a couple of those fantastic provisions.
Good old Mr Thomas will be told:
- Where he can and can’t go.
- When he can and can’t go.
- Who he can and can’t talk to.
- How he can talk to those people (through an AFP-approved (read:tapped) mobile, landline and internet connection)
- What he can and can’t do.
- What things he can and can’t do those specified things with.
In addition, he will have to:
- Wear a tracking device.
- Stay in the country.
- Report to the authorities at their beck and call.
- Be photographed, and give his fingerprints.
And, my own personal favourite requirement:
(l) a requirement that the person participate in specified counselling or education.
That’s right people, re-education! Does this sound familiar?
If there aren’t top ASIO operatives working right now on getting a Room 101 ready for his arrival, I’ll eat my hat.
Now, I would love to continue this missive, but unfortunately, I must head into that hallowed institution known as “university”. I will leave you with some wise words from my old friend and mentor Pastor Martin Niemöller.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
August 29, 2006 9:29 am 
By sarah
, August 29, 2006 @ 12:32 pm
Just remeber that:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others…”
hmmm
By wombat
, August 30, 2006 @ 12:20 am
This is a thoughtful, moving and intelligent post. Cheers, Stu. The Herald’s editorial today shocked and frightened me to the core.
And people agree with this so that they can sleep better at night. I personally find it hard to sleep with such a perversion of justice on our collective conscience.
By foster the imposter
, August 30, 2006 @ 9:16 am
that’ll learn him to be an enemy of australia!!!!
(cue Joel’s rampant tirade against the right wing)