UNIVERSITY STAFF VOICE ALARM OVER NEW TERROR LAWS
September 30, 2005
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) warned on Friday that proposed anti-terrorism laws agreed to by Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments this week will increase the powers of police and security services at the expense of civil rights, and could have serious implications for staff working in our universities.
A motion voicing alarm over the potential impact of the proposed laws on the civil liberties of university staff and students was unanimously passed by over two hundred delegates from universities across Australia taking part in the Union’s National Council in Melbourne this week.
“While it is important to protect Australia from potential threats, security agencies already have sweeping powers to counter terrorist activities, and NTEU is very concerned that these new laws will erode civil rights even further,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“The proposed laws could have very serious impacts on university staff, and may lead to surveillance of university staff and students’ research and teaching, including their use of library and Internet materials and their attendance at seminars and conferences.”
“There is also a risk that university administrators may be required to monitor staff and students on behalf of police and security services.”
“This is certainly the experience from the UK, where the Government is moving to make compulsory a scheme under which universities currently may opt to alert the Government to overseas research applicants suspected of being involved in the development of weapons of mass destruction.”
“Already, in late July this year, Australian Federal Police questioned a university student researching Palestinian suicide bombings after he bought and borrowed books on the subject. Exactly how the authorities identified the student is unclear.”
“The motion commits NTEU to lobbying the governments and university vice chancellors to ensure that the civil liberties of university staff and students are fully protected.”
“NTEU is also concerned that the new anti-terrorism laws may enable police and security services to use their powers against participants in industrial, political and community campaigns,” said Dr Allport.
“The deportation of US anti-corporate activist Scott Parkin on undisclosed grounds is a worrying sign of how these new powers could be used.”
“The Union is particularly concerned by the willingness of the leader of the Federal Opposition to support the deportation and the failure of the Federal Government to provide reasons for its decision.”
Information and Comment:
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President: (03) 9254 1910
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: (03) 9254 1910