Well, it's probably a lot smarter to spy on items of interest, and collect actual evidence, than to lock up, cross examine and traumatize, entirely innocent people on the basis of a racial or ethnic profile?
If in collecting/examining that evidence, nothing of real or implied interest is found, the data can simply be destroyed, with the selected targets none the wiser.
And I believe it would be smart to deny any knowledge of any such activity, meaning, the politicians should be kept out of the loop, just so they can quite truthfully deny any knowledge, which only needs to be passed on to them, if there is a PROBLEM?
And would that could of been the case, when the gentle, compassionate Dr Haneef was incarcerated, simply because some of the people he knew from childhood, turned out to be terrorists?
I dare say, most of the police force will know a few crooks, some of who they might have known since childhood?
Should we then also assume guilt by association, or simply tap their phones entirely covertly, and then let the knowable facts speak for themselves and their integrity.
Yet, I would be a good deal happier, if we but had a bill of rights, that guaranteed our liberties and privacy.
Meaning, the proper authorities, would then need a judge's signature and reasonable cause!
Rhrosty.

They must be watching Hasbeen, that's for sure.

I'm beginning to think Mark Twain's comments about the weather can equally be applied to state surveillance. Everyone talks about it but no one does anything about it.

In truth I don't think anyone can do much about it. It seems to be me to be inevitable.

Also please don't think it's only the Australian government spying on you. Does anyone seriously doubt that if the Indonesians had the capability they would refrain from spying on Australians? Do you think the Chinese government isn't trying its damndest?

For good or ill I think privacy is largely gone.

But if anyone has a workable idea let's see it.

And as an addition to Stevenlmeyers post above ...your employer is likely doing it too.

Just be careful of the words that you use,
"The old <bomb> went like a <rocket> till it <blew up>" has a few key words in it that might trigger warnings on automated listening devices.

Might be best to use an unbreakable code!

Australia spying on it's own could be beneficial under present circumstances of the Abbott - Indonesia apology refusal. The refusal itself is further insult. Deep insult.

Government of Australia security would do well to consider spying on consequences of Abbott's refusal to apologise, and then spy on security of the Australian economy.
For example, Indonesian business is likely to now dump a considerable part of beef imports from Australia, impact of which would likely be far greater than the economic impact from the live cattle saga.

Imagine if it was Indonesia spying on Mr Howard's wife, or Mr Abbott's wife or daughters, say during a time when personal woman's conversation was taking place.

I wish we had the likes of Malcolm Fraser type of politics instead of this Abbott approach that is so whinging and critical and abusive and heartless generally.
Look at him during the Gillard period, always critical, no productive vision or plans. Look how his first action as PM was to cut Aid nedded by poverty stricken people.
I think Mr Abbott is already the worst PM Australia has ever had.

The Liberal Party should spy on reality for a change and urgently give Mr Abbott proper advice, or have him step down as PM.

Wake up now Mr Abbott and apologise, and also apologise for the no apology as you stated in Parliament.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-refuses-to-apologise-for-indonesian-spying-program-20131119-2xsn4.html