President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission led a discussion about the proposals at a meeting of the state and territory commissioners, held in Adelaide last Friday. Spokesperson for the commissioners, Dr Helen Watchirs said while the Government claimed the anti-terrorism proposals were based on the UK model, there was one clear difference. “Australia does not have a Human Rights Act, whereas the UK does.”

She said Australia needed clear checks and balances to protect fundamental human rights. Commissioners were particularly concerned about proposals to impose control and preventative detention orders without a fair court hearing. The proposals would allow a person to be held without charge or trial, and without knowing why they were being held.