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Feedback from the WA State ALP Conference

Thanks to everyone who was there on Saturday from 7.30-10.30 - over a dozen of us at various times, including the Amnesty volunteers. Thanks Candice, Mark, Gavin and Nicole for all your assistance in pulling it together. It was great we had such good numbers as we were able to cover all the entrances and also engage delegates in conversations.

Working together to cover all main entrances into the front registration desk we were able to hand out information about the Terror Laws (including the Facts Sheet, Draft letters and Amnesty pamphlet) to every delegate before they registered and walked into the conference. The majority of the delegates accepted the information, and many were supportive of our action.

I think everybody who was there felt the importance and value of what we did. There was strong interest from many delegates and many I spoke to were unaware of the detail of the Act and appreciative of us being there. Security tried to move us on outside a couple of times but with a bit of assertive sweet talk we simply stayed on without any hassle. Talking with the people from the Wilderness Society who were also there and a couple of people from the Gunns/Free the forests Freedom of speech Tour we were also able to build some links and identify opportunities to work together.

Amnesty also set up a stall/information table in the forecourt outside the main convention hall and someone was there all morning. The "stall" included one of the big banners (Condemn Terror, Not Human Rights), the Amnesty material including the pamphlets and posters produced for the campaign and a selection of Amnesty stickers, magazines and information.

The State ALP Conference endorsed the following motion at the weekend conference passed as I understand it with minimal dissent. David Ritter from Labor Lawyers, who moved the motion told me that while resolution is not as strong as many would have wished, it is the strongest resolution that was possible in the circumstances. The wording is obviously also somewhat clunky - a reflection of hurried drafting and negotiations with the involvement of many hands and minds. The seconder of the motion was from the CFMEU, and apparently there is cross faction support for this.

In addition to the resolution, new policy was also passed in relation to a state bill of rights type instrument and, again, in relation to terrorism. The relevant sections of the policy are also included.

I think it will be really important for us to talk about what we can realistically achieve at the state level and what strategy is best. I will liaise with Giz's office to follow up last Thursday's meeting. We will write up a brief summary. I will also try to have a chat to Louise Pratt as well. I guess we need to see what happens with the Federal Legislation and then be able to move quickly, with a considered and coordinated strategy at the state level. Could anyone with links with State MP's perhaps explore their thoughts about the issues to assist in developing strategy?

Re the Federal ALP. Gavin engaged Chris Evans ALP Senate leader in conversation for some time on Saturday morning. His view seemed to be that at a Federal Level, the bill is much better as a result of the ALP's efforts.

The ALP are concentrating on the IR legislation as that affects pretty well everyone while the anti-terror legislation will only affect a handful of people.

85% of the electorate are shitting themselves about terrorism (and by implication there aint no votes in opposing the legislation).

Colin Penter
Perth WA
29 November 2005

Labor Conference Resolution

Resolution 41R

Moved: D Ritter - Seconded D Kavanagh

This conference recognises:

1. The role of government is to safeguard the safety and security of the community, while protecting civil and human rights;
2. The need for more widespread community debate about the balance between the protection of civil liberties and the general protection of the community; and
3. That aspects of the debate about terrorism have the potential to marginalize and promote distrust of ethnic and religious communities in Australia.

   and therefore:

4. Calls upon our elected representatives to be restrained and moderate in their language and to seek to promote a realistic assessment of the extent of terrorism as a threat to the community's well-being;
5. Calls upon the Attorney General to commit to an urgent timeline for the implementation of the WA Policy Platform in relation to the establishment of human rights legislation;
6. Calls on the State Parliamentary Labor Party to not support complementary state laws to the Federal Anti-Terror Bill (No 2) 2005 unless:
   • the definition of terrorism does not apply to industrial action, civil dissent or any form of protest;
   • judicial review remains a fundamental principle of law that is upheld in all aspects of the legislation;
   • the legislation is reviewed within 4 years.
7. Calls upon the State Government to commit to the application of social crime prevention strategies to prevent the emergence of domestic terrorists.

Policy Extract

State Protection of Fundamental Human Rights

1. Labor recognises that, ultimately, the protection of human rights lies in eternal vigilance.
2. Labor recognizes that Australia is now the only western nation in the common law world without a bill of rights or some other significant form of statutory protection guaranteeing the fundamental rights and liberties of citizens.
3. Labor recognises that the Australian Capital Territory, through the Human Rights Act 2004, became the first Australian jurisdiction to enact a bill of rights.
4. Labor believes that Western Australia should enact human rights legislation which is similar in scope and ambit to the (UK) Human Rights Act 1998 and the (ACT) Human Rights Act 2004. This legislation will seek to achieve the following objectives:
   1. foster a civic culture respectful of human rights;
   2. ensure that the impact of any proposed legislation on human rights is a matter considered by Parliament;
   3. require courts to interpret legislation consistently with human rights wherever possible;
   4. create a jurisdiction for the Courts to make a declaration as to whether legislation is compliant with human rights standards, though without impinging upon the supremacy of Parliament; and
   5. foster a state bureaucracy that is mindful of human rights.
5. Labor acknowledges that acts of terrorism are first and foremost crimes. Labor is committed to establishing appropriate laws and legal mechanisms to ameliorate the threat of terrorist crimes, as much as possible.
6. As with all crimes, in dealing with threats of terrorism, it is necessary to engage in a balancing act, so that the rights and liberties that Western Australians hold dear are not lightly forfeited in the name of combating terror.