The Sam Dastyari episode underscores the need for clear-cut rules to prevent those with links to foreign governments from using money to influence the political process.
The FBI and police officials say they need to decrypt secure communications to fight crime. But they have other options, and modern threats make clear the importance of strong encryption.
It’s ironic, but true, that the man who was lambasted for asserting the right for people to be bigots is at present the strongest voice in the cabinet for the protections of the rule of law.
In the main the public have accepted the world has changed, justifying altering the balance between security and rights. But there is still argument over precisely where lines should be drawn.
The states’ handover of driver licence data for a beefed up national facial biometric matching capability would only bring existing arrangements into ‘real time’.
Walt Rostow argued communism was incompatible with economic development and was influential in persuading Presidents Kennedy and Johnson to get more involved in Vietnam.
Barcelona 2017, London 2017, Berlin 2016, Nice 2016. In all of these cases the weapon of choice was a vehicle, driven at speed, into crowds innocently going about their daily business. Barcelona is just…
The government seems hell-bent on pre-crime arrest, prosecution, and punishment for terror offenders – while falling short in providing the necessary long-term support.
The move to consolidate security agencies under one minister upends generations of conventions on how security intelligence and executive police powers are managed separately.
Turnbull is understandably sensitive to suggestions that the planned home affairs ministry is all about Dutton, whose continued support is so vital to him.
The effectiveness of the changes to the ADF’s role in counter-terrorism operations will depend heavily on the willingness of state police to accept military advice and assistance.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has just announced the creation of a new “super-ministry”, modelled on the UK Home Office. By the end of 2018, Australia will have a new Department of Home Affairs. This…