Sadly governments of today don't aspire to high ideals they only look to the polls.

Tieran "Sadly governments of today don't aspire to high ideals they only look to the polls."

YOu must be talking about some foreign government - or maybe, the government we would have had if Labor and Latham came to power -
Certainly you are not talking about the Australian current government, unless, of course, their perspective opposes that of yourself - I suggest, therefore, if you want to change it - get up and stand for election - and let the rest of us express our "democratic" opinion of your views.

As for the current government - they walk a considered path between doing all they need and protecting individual rights - one thing is for sure - were Labor in power - they would surrender us all to a dominant, unelected authority - that is the sort of thing they are used to doing and did - as they were directed by their union masters.

Col Rouge - multi national corporations that lobby our government and win concessions/protective laws; the US that our Government follows into war without the electorates, let alone parliaments approval; 'friends' such as Howard's brother and Manildra who obtain government payouts/subsidies; changes to this country's human rights due to the so called 'war of terror'-I do not recall this Government advising us during the election that our country's laws were to be changed at the behest of such entities. What is the difference between these entities and a Liberal government and the 'unions' and Labour ? It is not always the 'guilty' who get caught up in these draconian changes to human rights - when your friend, neighbour, workmate or tenant is suspected under this laws - you may very well find yourself detained, without charge, without lawyers and without being able to speak out (without being changed for doing so) and no one will know where you are, until and if, you are released. It can happen to you, to me, to your loved ones - and this is such powers should not be allowed to government unless for exceptional and limited reasons. Just think, if a Labour government with its union thugs who are out to destroy you and these country, get elected, they too will inherit this powers. In that case, Col Rouge, be very afraid.

"One Newspoll conducted in April last year found that 68 per cent of adults agreed that terrorists would "strike before too long" and that a terrorist attack in Australia is inevitable. Options open up if people believe an attack is on its way. This is why the unthinkable in terms of law reform has become possible."
With respect George Williams, there is something missing here in an otherwise well thought out piece of work. I thought that terrorists attacked Mosques in Australia soon after the September 11 attack. There is something very ethno-centric in that 68 percent, or the Newspoll, for not recognising the attacks that had already occurred against Australian Muslims.
I suggest to this forum that there is a belief that an attack would come from terrorists from outside Australia or others of different ethnicity - so, because they think that "normal people" won't be the target of imvestigations , there has been passive acceptance. I think that any erosion of our civil liberty is an attack on all our freedoms and yes we desperately need a Bill of Rights or something to protect us. Any government that introduces legislation that takes away peoples rights to fair treatment is dangerous - probably more dangerous than any terrorist cell. History has recorded that more people have died at the hands of their own governments than any outside enemy.

In practice only criminals have human rights. Their victims have none. Keith

Bill of Rights? I don't think it would make a blind bit of difference. Have a look at the European version and tell me whether it is a) a vague expression of warm and fuzzy liberal concepts or b) a legal document with teeth.

http://www.europarl.eu.int/charter/default_en.htm

I suppose writing one would keep a bunch of public servants busy for a few years, but would have as much control over governmental decision-making as a piece of wet lettuce.