Attorney General's proposal to ban material that advocates terrorism is ludicrous |
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Tuesday, 29 May 2007 |
NSWCCL media release: 3/2007
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The NSW Council for Civil Liberties today lodged its submission responding to the Commonwealth Attorney-General's discussion paper on Material that Advocates Terrorism.
NSWCCL Secretary, Stephen Blanks, said:
"The proposal is ludicrous."
"In a liberal democratic society such as we have in Australia, the proper response to material that advocates terrorism is to expose such views to analysis, criticism and ridicule. The way to defeat bad ideas is to have better ideas."
"The United States position, where such material is not banned, vividly demonstrates that a functioning Western liberal democracy does not need to resort to the sort of restrictions upon freedom of expression and thought contained in the proposed amendments."
"The existing law in Australia already permits material that promotes or incites terrorism to be banned. It does not need to be extended to cover expression of opinions that will have no effect."
Media contact: Stephen Blanks, Secretary, NSW Council for Civil Liberties, 0414 448 654
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