Look’s like the state Premiers gave in to the government’s wishes and granted all the special “anti-terrorist” powers, and think they’ve done a fantastic job because they managed to get Howard to agree to a sunset clause after TEN years. Whoop-dee-fucking-do! What I love is the fact that the powers that be bleat on and on about how these powers will make us safer, while in actual fact they would have made absolutely no difference to either the WTC or London bombings.

The new powers allow police to detain someone without charge for up to 14 days. The UK started off with a 14 day limit as well, but recently increased it to three months, so I’m sure we’ll follow suit. Detainees will be allowed to know why they’re being held, but not see any evidence against them. They’ll be allowed to contact family “solely for the purposes of letting them know they are safe, but are not able to be contacted for the time being”.

A control order on a suspect that could put him or her under house arrest for a year, without charge, without trial, and without criminal standards of evidence, can be granted by a judge operating in a closed court, under the proposals the premiers agreed to.

The leaders emphasised that the powers would be subject to “judicial review”. But what this means is vague. The reviews will be limited and probably conducted behind closed doors.

The Sydney Morning Herald has the story.