Nicky & Dave

Just seen this on BBC News website. Not unexpected, I guess, but makes you realise you're not really safe anyway in these times......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4398364.stm

glittababe

Read the report but they haven't eleborated on the 'material' thats given them cause for concern. Just wondering if its the same material thats been doing the rounds on the internet for a while now re attacking Melborne?

lawlaw

Yeah I heard it on the news this morning, It's sad isnt it that its almost expected and something that appears we may have to get used too.

Anyway I hope the warning is enough to prevent anything or at least minimise something.

arkon

Thats good timing, on the same day as they provide the draft of the anti terror laws to parlement for debate. If I was at all cynical.........

Talking of new laws, has anyone read the new anti sedition act yet? I need to know if what I say on here is seditious or not, afterall Australia makes a habbit out of locking people for years with no charge so I wouldn't want to accidentally put my foot in it.

Nicky & Dave

Cynical ......you! Nah!

Anyway, what's the anti-sedition act then? I've not heard of it.

Nicky

ozzieeagle

Tell you what, the unions are dead pissed of about this law, and perhaps rightly so, as its more likely to be misused against the Union movement, than any constructive use against any terroist.


Main Entry: se·di·tion
Pronunciation: si-'di-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin sedition-, seditio, literally, separation, from se- apart + ition-, itio act of going, from ire to go -- more at SECEDE, ISSUE
: incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority.




Re this specific terroist threat. I'm quite pleased with the stance Howard has taken on this. It's "we know the details, and what it is all about, but are not going to tell the public the specifics, and will keep it low key" Probably about as good as you can do in the circumstance. No one in Melbourne that I know is too concerned about it, which is great.

A dogs life

If I was at all cynical, I'd wonder why this specific threat requires all night sittings of the senate to pass the laws just so they can arrest the people they know are involved in said terrorist plots...

What do they need to rush through new laws for? Arrest them anyway, get the proof and the new laws later.

Luckily I'm not cynical

seang

I would disagree. If anything does kick off he is damned. Having information and not being able to prevent an attack would not look good. Saying nothing and still working behind the scenes is the way to go.
Sure the public are going to be more alert for a few days but then relax again. So putting the threat in the public domain achieves nothing long term.
All the same I pray nothing does happen.

ozzieeagle

Personally I think it tells the Teorrists, that they know what has been targeted and are waiting and watching. Mind you I'm only summising on the facts as presented.

So far though, even with a specific threat out there, and some knowledge on the table, the public hasn't changed it's behaviour, which is good news for aussie society, and bad news for the Terrorists. Saves everyone not using public transport for example, with no attack after a few months etc etc, in that situation the terror publicity machine winds hands down.

rapitts

Me being a cynical as such, what a great way to push the states into signing the agreement

NickyC

Except that, that's the first thing that everyone else thought, too.

He's had to convince both the Opposition and every State Premier (think they're not cynical?) and he seems to have achieved it.

It must be quite convincing evidence.

ozzieeagle

From a union standpoint, What has been mostly underdebate in parliment over the last few weeks. The workplace reforms. This sedition law is seen as "resistance is futile" and what a perfect vehicle for bringing it in, aiming it as the terrorists.... bullshiit...

Back to my earlier point about the terror publicity machine. We have a few Muslims at the very large post office delivery centre where I work. When the Anthrax scare was on in earnest, we had a parcel from america burst spilling a small amout of white powder out on the parcel loading dock. way away from the posties. It was post office policy to inform the 300 employees on site about the event even though the firebrigade and prevention services were called in straight away. Now the muslim guys made a big song and dance about the whole thing in almost a political stance, about everyone should be ordered to evacuate, however the postoffice left it up to the employee to make their own decision, with the emergency services stating that everything was contained...... turned out to be a specialist baking powder from america for a bagel shop in North Fitzroy.

rapitts

nah guess Mr Howard has been taking some tips from Mr Blair and Mr Bush, I was expecting him to say we need the agreement signed in 5 minutes...as in the Iraq 5 minute claim.

arkon

Excactly! The new laws are just so reminisant of pre 1939 nazi germany, just keep chipping away at your civil liberties in the name of the greater good until one day we all wake up arrested for parking facing the wrong way.
How anyone can possibly think these new laws will stop an act of terrorism is beyond me. If they suspect someone, do it the time honered way of watching them and then arresting them when they are actually in the act of being baddies. People will no doubt shout that old chicken about if youv'e done nothing wrong you've got nothing to worry about, well I hate to piss on peoples parade but with these laws you CAN get arrested for doing nothing wrong then put in jail with no right to a lawyer for a few weeks.

With all these new laws and right errosion going on all round the world the terrorists are actually winning hands down.

jad n rich

The age has my viewpoint, Mr Howard says its a coincidence we had a 'terror threat' on the day he pushed through workplace reforms that most see as taking away workers rights on dismissal, holidays, minimum wage, shift allowance etc etc

The brawling was good tho 11 MP's objecting were evicted.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...823280992.html