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Australian Police Chief Seeks Terror Reporting Ban

Posted by samzenpus on from the ignorance-is-bliss dept.

DJMajah writes "News.com.au reports that Australian Federal Police chief Mick Keelty has called for a media blackout on reporting of terrorism investigations and cases before trial in a speech to the Sydney Institute last night. Although he doesn't believe public institutions should be immune from public accountability, he goes on to say that public discussion should be delayed until information is made available by the courts or legal proceedings are complete. This all comes after last year's widely reported case of Dr. Mohammed Haneef who was detained then later deported from Australia on evidence described as weak — and seen by some, including Haneef, as a conspiracy."

4 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Not supported by the Governement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Federal Government and the Prime Minister have said they have no intentions of doing this.

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudd-blacks-out-keeltys-opinion/2008/01/31/1201714110077.html

  2. Re:1984 by tpgp · · Score: 5, Informative

    If Australia takes this step,

    I don't think Australia's likely to take this step, the person asking for this is the dumbass cop who arrested an innocent man to attempt to test new anti-terror laws (his relationship with the previous Australian government also suggests he did it for political gain).

    Read this article for a better understanding of the Haneef case.

    The current government does not support the calls to censor the media.

    --
    My pics.
  3. Re:He's copped a right caning for it... by pnevin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Keelty's got form. One of the reasons why the Haneef case fell apart was because the guy's barrister released the transcript of Haneef's police interviews to the press, as a response to repeated damaging AFP leaks and also to show what a confused mess the AFP's case actually was. As a result, Keelty is seeking to have the lawyer struck off for unprofessional conduct.

    Keelty always had an enthusiastic ear in the last government, who were desperately seeking another Tampa in an election year. The new government, thankfully, appears to be treating matters a bit more soberly.

  4. Re:1984 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    "This all comes after last years widely reported case of Dr. Mohammed Haneef who was detained then later deported from Australia on evidence described as weak"
    It was not just weak, it was falsified.

    It is precisely because of how they handled the Haneef case that they *should* be scrutinised, monitored, and observed, every step of the way.