Senate debates
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
4:48 pm
Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
by leave—I, and on behalf of Senator Stott Despoja, move the motion as amended:
That the Senate—
- (a)
- notes:
- (i)
- that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting was held in Sydney in the week beginning 3 September 2007 and that this event cost more than $300 million to stage, and
- (ii)
- that the security operation involved:
- (a)
- overzealous policing methods, including the violent arrests of journalists, an accountant and numerous peaceful protestors,
- (b)
- intimidatory video surveillance of members of parliament and the community,
- (c)
- rifles being pointed at the people of Sydney in low-flying helicopters and by rooftop snipers,
- (d)
- freedom of movement being curtailed throughout Sydney by police,
- (e)
- the prohibition of people entering parts of Sydney, based on unsubstantiated police accusations and secretive blacklists,
- (f)
- police discouraging peaceful dissent against APEC through unnecessary shows of force, including police dogs, water cannons, deployment of the riot squad and the disproportionate show of force,
- (g)
- police not wearing name badges, and
- (h)
- the suspension of fundamental legal principals such as the presumption of innocence, presumption in favour of bail, and the requirement of reasonable suspicion to conduct personal serarches, and
- (iii)
- the statement of the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) backing the conduct of the APEC security and police operations; and
- (b)
- calls on the Government to:
- (i)
- immediately apologise to the people of Sydney, who have had their civil liberties and freedoms suspended by APEC, and
- (ii)
- support an independent inquiry into the conduct of the New South Wales police and others involved in the security operation during APEC.
Question put.