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Tony Abbott asks ethnic communities to support counter-terrorism laws Tony Abbott asks ethnic minorities to support counter-terrorism laws
(about 7 hours later)
Tony Abbott will spend the early part of the coming week in a targeted outreach effort with ethnic communities in Sydney and Melbourne in an effort to build local support for the Coalition’s counter-terrorism measures, and also soothe a grassroots backlash prompted by the government’s early frolic on hate speech. Tony Abbott will spend the early part of the coming week in a targeted outreach effort with ethnic minorities in Sydney and Melbourne in an effort to build local support for the Coalition’s counter-terrorism measures, and also soothe a grassroots backlash prompted by the government’s early frolic on hate speech.
The prime minister will hit the road this week before the resumption of parliament in Canberra on 25 August.The prime minister will hit the road this week before the resumption of parliament in Canberra on 25 August.
The looming spring parliamentary session will include the introduction of a new tranche of terrorism laws dealing with security risks posed by returning fighters from conflicts in the Middle East – and more specifically, the government’s legal difficulties in mounting successful criminal prosecutions of foreign fighters.The looming spring parliamentary session will include the introduction of a new tranche of terrorism laws dealing with security risks posed by returning fighters from conflicts in the Middle East – and more specifically, the government’s legal difficulties in mounting successful criminal prosecutions of foreign fighters.
The government has been signalling it wants and needs the support of local Muslim leaders for its effort to contain and manage any domestic national security risks posed by events in Syria and Iraq.The government has been signalling it wants and needs the support of local Muslim leaders for its effort to contain and manage any domestic national security risks posed by events in Syria and Iraq.
The prime minister recently dumped the Coalition’s commitment to overhaul protections against hate speech enshrined in the Racial Discrimination Act on the basis the proposed change was undermining support for counter terrorism measures.The prime minister recently dumped the Coalition’s commitment to overhaul protections against hate speech enshrined in the Racial Discrimination Act on the basis the proposed change was undermining support for counter terrorism measures.
Abbott said that the proposed RDA changes had “become a complication” in the effort to build “team Australia” when it came to national security.Abbott said that the proposed RDA changes had “become a complication” in the effort to build “team Australia” when it came to national security.
He was promptly criticised for linking the backdown on the RDA to the terrorism measures. Before the government pushed ahead with its national security changes, a number of Liberal MPs had already warned publicly and privately that the racial discrimination sortie was alienating key ethnic and religious groups in the major cities, and causing the Coalition significant political damage.He was promptly criticised for linking the backdown on the RDA to the terrorism measures. Before the government pushed ahead with its national security changes, a number of Liberal MPs had already warned publicly and privately that the racial discrimination sortie was alienating key ethnic and religious groups in the major cities, and causing the Coalition significant political damage.
The prime minister’s effort in the coming week to move past the controversy and reboot the Coalition’s relationship with community leaders is a clear attempt to draw a line under the misstep.The prime minister’s effort in the coming week to move past the controversy and reboot the Coalition’s relationship with community leaders is a clear attempt to draw a line under the misstep.
But the pivot is being complicated to some extent by resistance from within the government’s ranks. South Australian Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says he will co-sponsor and vote for a bill to be brought forward by the Family First senator Bob Day, which will give effect to the Coalition’s original intention on the RDA.But the pivot is being complicated to some extent by resistance from within the government’s ranks. South Australian Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says he will co-sponsor and vote for a bill to be brought forward by the Family First senator Bob Day, which will give effect to the Coalition’s original intention on the RDA.
“I believe in free speech and I think there are people in the Liberal grassroots that want to know that there are those in the Liberal parliamentary party that are absolutely committed to it,” Bernardi told the Ten Network on Sunday.“I believe in free speech and I think there are people in the Liberal grassroots that want to know that there are those in the Liberal parliamentary party that are absolutely committed to it,” Bernardi told the Ten Network on Sunday.
Bernardi said the decision by the government to dump its proposed reform of section 18C of the RDA had “disappointed many members of the Liberal party”. The South Australian Liberal said the bill being proposed by Day was “absolutely consistent with Liberal party values” and that was why he intended to support it.Bernardi said the decision by the government to dump its proposed reform of section 18C of the RDA had “disappointed many members of the Liberal party”. The South Australian Liberal said the bill being proposed by Day was “absolutely consistent with Liberal party values” and that was why he intended to support it.
Bernardi has also expressed some early hesitation concerning about elements of the government’s proposed terrorism changes on the basis they may breach the privacy of ordinary people.Bernardi has also expressed some early hesitation concerning about elements of the government’s proposed terrorism changes on the basis they may breach the privacy of ordinary people.
Concern about some of the terrorism proposals – particularly a looming change under which telecommunications companies and internet service providers would be required to store the metadata of customers for two years – is felt elsewhere on the backbench.Concern about some of the terrorism proposals – particularly a looming change under which telecommunications companies and internet service providers would be required to store the metadata of customers for two years – is felt elsewhere on the backbench.
Police and security agencies argue metadata collection is an essential tool in their operations. But mandatory data retention is a counter terrorism proposal with a significant consumer dimension.Police and security agencies argue metadata collection is an essential tool in their operations. But mandatory data retention is a counter terrorism proposal with a significant consumer dimension.
The government’s direction on counter terrorism has already prompted one discussion inside the Coalition party room, with MPs outlining some in-principle concerns about the balance between security and personal liberty.The government’s direction on counter terrorism has already prompted one discussion inside the Coalition party room, with MPs outlining some in-principle concerns about the balance between security and personal liberty.
Liberal backbencher Alex Hawke has already spoken out against the mandatory retention of metadata proposal, arguing it is a “generational issue”.Liberal backbencher Alex Hawke has already spoken out against the mandatory retention of metadata proposal, arguing it is a “generational issue”.
Hawke’s point is young voters resist the notion of their online life being subject to inquiry by police and intelligence agencies.Hawke’s point is young voters resist the notion of their online life being subject to inquiry by police and intelligence agencies.
“A lot of Coalition people were nervous about mandatory data retention when Labor first proposed it,” Hawke told Guardian Australia last week. “The right to privacy is essential. You need to have strong protections.”“A lot of Coalition people were nervous about mandatory data retention when Labor first proposed it,” Hawke told Guardian Australia last week. “The right to privacy is essential. You need to have strong protections.”