One of the unsettling features of the recent federal election campaign was its narrow focus. There was barely even lipservice paid to concerns about the extensive anti-terrorism and sedition laws created by the Howard Government over the last seven years.
Every parliamentary committee or independent commission appointed to review Australia's sedition laws recommended major amendments to and sometimes scrapping of much contained in that new legislation covering 'sedition'.
The Howard Government had rushed these laws through parliament on the promise that it would accept the Australian Law Reform Commission review findings and recommendations when these were tabled at a future date. However, then Attorney-General, Phillip Ruddock reneged on full acceptance of the Commission's recommendations and his department has not been overly enthusiastic in its approach to the little which Ruddock did endorse.
The question which now confronts the Australian community is whether Kevin Rudd will rescue our civil liberties and remove these potential impediments to free speech. During the recent election campaign he was quick to promise a change to Freedom of Information legislation and regulations, but was silent on our sedition laws.
Rudd now heads a Labor government with an extremely healthy majority in the House of Representatives. By next July it will have a strong ally in the Senate, the Greens, on matters relating to civil liberties and social justice. So will Rudd move on these flawed sedition laws or have we just exchanged one right-wing philosophy for another?
I hope that Kevin Rudd and Labor will recognise widespread and legitimate concern over sedition law evidenced by submissions, and move quickly to implement all of the recommendations outlined in the Australian Law Reform Commission's report. Legitimate dissent is a vital part of the democratic process and deserves to be protected by law.
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