Australian Politics General...

The WA Premier says a proposed expansion of police search powers "absolutely" does not amount to government overreach but could not say if officers would be able to search peoples' phones.

Key points:​

• The Premier says the changes are aimed at stopping drug importations
• But he was vague on whether police will be able to search people's phones
• It comes in the wake of privacy concerns with SafeWA and ServiceWA

Police Minister Paul Papalia on Tuesday announced the expansion of a suite of laws, which he said was necessary to prevent drugs being imported to the state.

It would aim to mimic pandemic powers to give police officers additional authority to search people at border crossings, airports, ports and railway stations, but the exact details have not been revealed.

Ethnic Communities Council WA president Suresh Rajan has raised concerns it could lead to an increase in racial profiling by police.

But Premier Mark McGowan said the measures were purely targeted at reducing the amount of drugs going through border crossings, and were not broad 'stop and search' powers.
When asked if that meant police officers would be able to search peoples' phones, Mr McGowan said he could not remember the exact detail of what was being proposed.

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"But it may be just around the border areas," he said.

"Some of the criminal syndicates use encrypted apps and so forth, it may be about dealing with those things.

"When we actually finalise it, we'll be able to give you more details."

Those details will be a sensitive subject for many, after privacy issues emerged with both ServiceWA and SafeWA apps, including their use by police in criminal investigations.

The Premier repeatedly compared the search powers to those given to government officials to prevent pests and diseases being brought into the state.

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Multicultural Affairs Minister Leanne Linard said she supported the introduction of legislation that addressed serious vilification and hate crimes against culturally diverse groups.

“I meet and work with people from across our ethnically diverse state every day and have heard first-hand of the devastating effects of vilification and hate crimes”, Ms Linard said.

“This new legislation will protect against this form of discrimination and hold Queenslanders who commit these crimes to account.

“I endorse the Queensland Parliament Legal Affairs and Safety Committee’s recommendation to make it a criminal offence to display hate symbols to invoke fear in others.

“We know that swastika symbols have a profound meaning in some religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The new laws will allow these symbols to be used in these respectful circumstances but prevent them from being used as a symbol of hate. I look forward to the legislation being introduced later this year.”

The Attorney said the Parliamentary Committee had made 17 recommendations after reviewing the nature and extent of hate crimes and serious vilification in the State, and the effectiveness of existing laws.

“Our existing laws respond to some of the issues examined by the Committee, however, we are committed to strengthening our laws to ensure our diverse communities are better protected,” she said.

“That’s why we will be accepting all recommendations of the committee.

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mullokintyre said:

it seems that the poer drunk egotistical premiers just can't help themselves.
Under the guise of fighting drug importation, WA police have been given new search powers that even the Premier is unceratain as to what the extent will be.
FromABC News


Well if they are not broad stop and search powers, put it in writing instead of the vague crap they give.
One thing that has been consistently shown is that Police in all jurisdictions will always overstep when they think they have unfettered powers.
We in Victoria saw it time and time again during the pandemic when they completely overeacted on so many occasions, pepper spraying people, arresting pregnant women over face book posts, taking the phones of old ladies as the filmed police overeaction.
There have been two court cases instigated this week by journalists who were pepper sprayed by over zealous police.
The old saying about power corrupting, and absolute power corrupting absolutely, never rang more tru.
Mick

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moXJO said:

I was hoping this authoritarian reach would stop under Labor. But lib and Labor states seem to be pushing further with this bullsht.

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sptrawler said:

When they're on a roll and there is no resistance, push the boundaries.
They never know when these opportunities will present again, may as well get laws in place, that might be useful down the track.

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The most important factor was COVID and its impacts ... Fowler had the harshest and longest lockdowns in the state, supported by both Liberal and Labor, and there was an understandable sense of anger at both major parties, with people reacting with “a pox on both your houses”. At the same time you had a strong independent candidate running, and a wealthy person in Clive Palmer bankrolling the UAP – and while the UAP didn’t win any seats the impact that Palmer had was to drive down major party primary votes and deprive the major parties of Senate seats and preferences in lower house seats.

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mullokintyre said:

Kristina Keneally like most political failures blames outside influences for her defeat by another female immigrant.
The red bandana boy gave her s sympathetic hearing.
from SMH

No consideration to the idea that perhaps her opponent ran a better campaign, was part of the local community, had not been parachuted into a western suburbs seat from the uber rich areas of the North Shore, or perhaps voters just don't like her.
No she says its all Clive Palmers fault, and a general pox on both your houses due to lockdown.
This despite the fact that all the lockdowns were not put in place at a federal level, but put in place by state governments, and in the case of this particular NSW seat, a Liberal one at that.
Nah, does not compute.
Surely now the labor party will finalise realise she is pretty much unelectable.
Mick

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Knobby22 said:

Yea, her political career is finished. But good on SMH for interviewing her. Nice to get her take even if it does betray her lack of self awareness.

Did you see the other well thought article about the Teals? That they are basically a franchise? And like McDonald's, once they get common they appear everywhere. The article stated the safe Labor seats will be targeted next election.

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Knobby22 said:

Yea, her political career is finished. But good on SMH for interviewing her. Nice to get her take even if it does betray her lack of self awareness.

Did you see the other well thought article about the Teals? That they are basically a franchise? And like McDonald's, once they get common they appear everywhere. The article stated the safe Labor seats will be targeted next election.

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wayneL said:

Simon installed as El Presidente?

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PZ99 said:

He should be treasurer...
$10m for 10 seats... Clive Palmer $100m for no seats

As for Kristina Keneally, her name should be added to the ASF swear filter.
Frankly I hope this favouritism costs Labor their majority. Nothing gets my goat up more than working your backside off for years only to get passed over because of some blow-in bimbo with NFI about the job.

Penny Wong is another irritant on my sheet list - but at least she's done a few hard yards... Keneally has done jack all.

"It's a pretty ugly table guys"​

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SirRumpole said:

I'm sure they will find something for Kristina to do. She may end up a Minister's Chief of Staff or something.

As long as we can't hear her whining voice.

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SirRumpole said:

I'm sure they will find something for Kristina to do. She may end up a Minister's Chief of Staff or something.

As long as we can't hear her whining voice.

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Garpal Gumnut said:

Ambassador to USA unfortunately.

KK always ends jam side up.

gg

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Knobby22 said:

You mean Governor General! ?
Can't see it myself.

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Garpal Gumnut said:

KK always ends jam side up.

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wayneL said:

I always find that curious. What power does she have over the Labor Party?

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