The Australian Democrats are not beholden to big business or the unions or chained to any extreme ideology or religion. We are a party that makes judgments based on what is fair and just and moral. We are the only party that simply fights for what is right.
For honesty, tolerance and compassion.
Choose Common Sense
AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS!!!
Bring Back Balance
ACT Democrats 2007
Media Release 16 November 2007
Democrats demand full Inquiry into anti-terror laws
“A full and wide ranging inquiry is needed into Australia’s anti-terror laws!” insists Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.
Inquiries have been announced by both the Inspector-General of Intelligence & Security, Ian Carnell and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty.
Mr Churchill said, “That’s not enough. It’s far too simplistic to assume that public confidence can be restored in our Federal police and Intelligence agencies by internal watchdog inquiries”
“There’s far too much power been given to our enforcement agencies under the government’s anti-terror laws. The courts have recognised the risk to basic human rights under the laws. At the very least, we need a Senate Select Inquiry to investigate the matter and redress the balance. The Ul-Haque and Haneef cases clearly show there are major problems”
“These intrusive and unfair laws were passed by the collusion of both Liberal and Labor. Only the Democrats have consistently questioned the lack of accountability under the laws.”
“I’ve often stated that our Parliament, courts and security agencies need to be accountable. That our freedoms are precious and need to be protected, not given away through legislation that seeks to control the very people it is supposed to protect. It is society at it’s worst when poor decisions in relation to our laws fail to uphold the very freedoms they claim to protect” stated a deeply concerned Mr Churchill
As recently as Tuesday, Mr Churchill had called for a review of the anti-terror laws, in the light of the Ul-Haque decision by Judge Michael Adams.
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
Paid Maternity Leave is an issue for the whole family
“If the government and opposition were serious about helping familles, a system of government funded National Paid Maternity leave would have been in their list of promises” claims Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill
Both Liberal and Labor launched their official election platforms this week. But neither of them would commit to introducing national Paid Maternity Leave. There are currently some provisions for Paid Maternity Leave in the public sector, but most women are left to negotiate for Paid Maternity Leave arrangements at the workplace level or use other leave instead.
“This is a family issue, not simply a women’s issue” Mr Churchill said. “When a family is used to having two incomes (as many are these days) and one partner has to take unpaid time off work to care for a new baby, the other partner has the added pressure of meeting the shortfall in income by having to work longer hours or find a second job. This puts added pressure on families at a time when they can least afford it.”
“A national Paid Maternity Leave scheme would enable women to easily return to work, prevent their loss of skills from the workforce, keep superannuation entitlements intact and reduce the burden on families with a new child.”
“It is a better, fairer, and economically cheaper system than the Baby Bonus. It would bring Australia into line with all OECD countries, except the United States. And it should be available to all women immediately on the birth or adoption of a child.”
“Legislation for Paid Maternity Leave was introduced into the Senate by the Democrats just before the last Parliament rose. And it’s high time the old parties got on board with this common sense idea.” Mr Churchill concluded.
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
The other parties are frightened of our honesty.
It’s time we got into the House of Representatives too!
“Mandatory detention is cruel, heartless and totally lacking in common sense and compassion!” declared Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.
The last two nights, the ABC programme Lateline has reported at length the wrongful detention of Vietnamese man, Tony Tran. Mr Tran’s physical and mental health has suffered as a result of being wrongfully imprisoned in a detention centre in 1999, despite having a visa.
“It’s time to close the barbaric and inhumane detention centres and remove mandatory detention from the Migration Act.”
“Cases like Mr Tran and Cornelia Rau are clearly not isolated incidents. It is offensive to any concept of human decency, that in a society claiming to be civilised we continue to gaol people who are totally innocent. Human beings (including children) are being locked up, under the Migration Act, for nothing short of political expediency”, said Mr Churchill
Mr Churchill called for an end to the practice and a return to the values of compassion and tolerance.
“We urgently need legislation which protects the rights of all who live in Australia and all who seek a better life in Australia”
“It is cruel, heartless, and totally lacking in any concept of intelligence and compassion that basic human rights are ignored by the Migration Act. It’s time to pay proper attention to human rights” concluded Mr Churchill.
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
Anti-Terror Laws Need Urgent Overhaul
Basic rights are being eroded under anti-terror laws claims Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.
National Nine and ABC News tonight detailed a report of a case in Sydney, where Judge Michael Adams had rule that ASIO officers had falsely imprisoned and used “oppressive conduct” in interrogating a medical student Izhar Ul-Haque
Mr Churchill, who last week addressed The Justice Project “Human Rights Forum” at Dickson College on the topic of accountability and human rights in the face of increased anti-terror laws, tonight echoed the Australian Council for Civil Liberties belief that “the judge’s findings indicated serious problems with the way ASIO operated.”
The court has shown the ridiculous “power creep” that has happened under the anti-terror laws introduced by the government and supported by the opposition.
It’s a question of accountability. And the court has shown that our enforcement agencies are becoming ‘overenthusiastic’ and indeed are overstepping the mark.
The fact that agencies such as ASIO and the police are there to protect us should not exclude them from scrutiny and accountability” Mr Churchill said.
“The treatment of Mr Ul-Haque is abhorrent and totally outside the principles of a civilized society. I welcome the court’s decision in upholding the principle of a person’s basic legal rights as a citizen. We need accountability and need to make sure our laws uphold the freedoms they set out to protect.” stated Mr Churchill.
Mr Churchill called for a complete review of anti-terror laws to include safeguards to protect the privacy and legal rights of citizens, as a matter of urgency.
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
(Link to Australian Democrats “Human Rights Policy”: http://natashastottdespoja.com/cms_resources/Human%20Rights%20Policy%20Election%2007.pdf)
(Link to Senator Stott Despoja’s “Human Rights Media Release”: http://www.democrats.org.au/news/index.htm?press_id=6339&display=1 )
Darren Churchill: Australian Democrats Campaigns 