News — Queensland Council for Civil Liberties

Enough is Enough - Medicinal Cannabis Rally - Speech by John Ransley

Many if not all of the erosions of civil liberties over the last five decades were modelled in Nixon’s War on Drugs and the subsequent Reagan War on Drugs. Well before the sex offender and anti-terrorism laws: mandatory sentencing; reverse onus of proof; warrantless invasion of homes based on reasonable suspicion; proceeds of crime laws allowing

confiscation without conviction; phone tapping laws; cash transaction laws; and ‘civilisation’

of crime generally by replacing the criminal standard with the civil standard of proof

Council may commit offence by recording sound

“CCTV is a cheap way for politicians to be seen to be doing something to reduce crime. But it creates a false sense of security for the public.”

Media releaseQueensland Council for Civil Liberties8 February 2017Surveillance, Privacy

2017 Independent Intelligence Review.

It is extremely alarming that some parts of our government seem to think they should be protected from scrutiny by the elected representatives of the people of the country. This is an anathema to any Democrat.

Submission to Freedom of speech in Australia inquiry

The QCCL unreservedly condemns all forms of racial vilification and discrimination. However in the Council’s view, it is another thing to make the expression of such views illegal

SubmissionQueensland Council for Civil Liberties15 December 2016Free Speech

John Ransley Speech to 2016 QCCL AGM

Many if not all of the erosions of civil liberties over the last five decades were modelled in Nixon‟s War on Drugs, well before the sex offender and anti-terrorism laws: mandatory sentencing; reverse onus of proof; warrantless invasion of homes based on reasonable suspicion; proceeds of crime laws allowing confiscation without conviction; phone tapping laws; cash transaction laws; and „civilisation‟ of crime generally by replacing the criminal standard with the civil standard of proof

Statement to Committee on Draft Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2016

The major flaw in the Bill is supply. The Victorian Law Reform Commission report on medicinal cannabis identified this as a key problem and recommended that Victoria organise its own cannabis industry, from cultivation to prescription. This recommendation was incorporated into the Victorian legislation. It is very hard to see how the Qld Bill can work without addressing this issue.

Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2016

President Nixon’s classification of cannabis as an illegal drug on a par with heroin had not the slightest relationship to any credible contemporary medicine or science.

Queensland Council for Civil Liberties8 July 2016Drugs, Drug Law Reform, Drug

Publication of allegations of corrupt conduct made to the CMC

The right to free speech and the right to a fair trial are two of the most cherished values in a civilised society. However, they can and do come into conflict. Traditionally under our legal system this conflict has been resolved by effectively prohibiting the disclosure of allegations against a person until they have reached a stage where there is sufficient evidence to support a charge. At that point limited publicity is permitted. And then full publicity occurs at the time of trial. We support that traditional arrangement. Two reasons are traditionally given for this approach. The first is to protect the reputation of persons. Secondly to protect their right to a fair trial.

Draft Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2016 Supplementary Submission

The Council’s clear and oft-stated preference is for the government to legalise cannabis without any restrictions

SubmissionQueensland Council for Civil Liberties19 April 2016Drug Law Reform, Drug

Submission to Queensland Human Rights Inquiry

In the Council’s view the case for a Human Rights Act is quite simply irrefutable. In saying that the Council does not think that a Human Rights Act will constitute a revolution in either sense. That is, a Human Rights Act will not create a human rights nirvana in Queensland. Nor will it wreck the separation of powers between the branches of the government or destroy our democracy. What it will do is represent a bold statement of commitment by the Queensland Government to bring human rights closer to the heart of political culture in this state and provide a place where the marginalised and disadvantaged in our community can seek redress for their grievances.

Draft Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2016

The Council’s clear and oft-stated preference is for the government to legalise cannabis without any restrictions, and we note that the federal health minister, Ms Sussan Ley, has recently reaffirmed that decriminalisation of cannabis is up to the states.

Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill 2016

In our submission, the process contemplated under this legislation is extremely bureaucratic and process driven. The focus of the legislation should be the treatment of ill people. In California, you can see a doctor and walk out of the pharmacy the same day with a prescription. Why can we not have that system in this country?

Youth Justice Reform discussion paper 2016

Economic research indicates that early intervention is a more cost effective way of dealing with crime than conventional sanctions such as imprisonment

Judiical Appointments

The Council finds it nonsense to suggest appointment based solely on merit by this process is possible. Nor does the Council think that the public is best served by continuing to portray the notion that there is an idealised standard for a Judge and there is always a clear front-runner for the role. The Council is certain that for any position there are a considerable number of choices who would be more than capable of performing the role well. Society’s main interest is that the appointee is one of those capable of performing the role well. To that end it must be beyond doubt that the appointment was neither arbitrary nor political. That is what it is at the moment.

SubmissionQueensland Council for Civil Liberties16 December 2015Courts

Legalisation of Medicinal Cannabis by Christmas?

Media releaseQueensland Council for Civil Liberties14 October 2015Drugs, Drug & Alcohol Policy, Drug Law Reform

Minister Dutton Glories in his Cruelty

“I can say without knowing the details that a significant number of them despite having been punished according to law, have been sentenced again to a bleak existence without their loved ones, without income and in many cases because they can’t speak the language with no prospect of any meaningful existence in the communities to which they have been sent.”

Medicinal Cannabis Report Palaszczuk Should Act Now

Mr Cope noted the renewed push for legalisation of medicinal cannabis had been inspired by a handful of brave souls who had chosen to go public with their medical use of cannabis for symptoms unrelieved by legal drugs

Australian Citizenship-You're right, Your Responsibility Discussion Paper.

"citizenship is not a license that expires upon misbehaviour. The duties of citizenship are numerous and the discharge of many of these obligations is essential to the security and well-being of the Nation. The citizen who fails to pay his taxes or to abide by the laws safeguarding the integrity of elections deals a dangerous blow to his country. But could a citizen be deprived of his nationality for evading these basic responsibilities of citizenship?….But citizenship is not lost every time a duty of citizenship is shirked. And the deprivation of citizenship is not a weapon the government may use to express its displeasure at a citizen's conduct however reprehensible that conduct may be. As long as a person does not voluntarily renounce or abandon his citizenship… his fundamental right of citizenship is secure."

Bill Gordon is Entitled Remain a Member of Parliament

“The Premier rightly referred the allegations of domestic violence to the Police. Until that process results in Mr Gordon being convicted of an offence which disqualifies him from being a member of Parliament he is entitled to sit and should be allowed to do so without hindrance.”

Regulator of Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2014

QCCL commends the cross-party sponsors of the Regulator Bill for proposing a model that addresses many of the concerns of the various stakeholders. The two principal virtues of the Bill are that it establishes a national statutory authority separate from the TGA, and that the authority will be responsible for ALL aspects of the supply and use of medicinal cannabis

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