ACT Supports Move to Allow Full Scrutiny of Anti-Terrorism Laws
Friday 9 Nov 2001 Richard Prebble Press Releases -- Foreign Affairs & Defence
The ACT Party supports the select committee's decision to allow time for proper public scrutiny of anti-terrorism laws,
ACT leader Richard Prebble says.
"The government does need to pass laws that enable this country to meet the requirements of a United Nations resolution
which is binding on all UN members, to have laws in place to enable the assets of terrorists to be seized," Mr Prebble
said.
"However, there's nothing in the UN resolution that requires New Zealand to seize the property of citizens without the
due process of law.
"It's easy to accuse an organisation of being terrorists. In a parliamentary democracy, there must be some process
whereby the claims by the state have to be tested and established.
"The events of September 11 have changed the world forever and we're going to need stronger laws - but such laws should
be passed only after careful scrutiny and with Parliament being assured the laws go no further than necessary," Mr
Prebble said.
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.