Category Archives: News

Porter a repeat offender on civil liberties

By admin | Published: November 19, 2011
Search For Your Rights members are extremely concerned about Attorney-General Christian Porter’s announcement of the Criminal Organisations Control Bill, according to spokesperson, Pearl Lim. “We have long known that the Attorney-General had been working on a way to remove the freedom of association, and here it is,” said Ms Lim. “These are not ‘anti-bikie’ laws.  These are [...]
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Raided for no reason (SFYR Statement)

By admin | Published: October 29, 2011
Search For Your Rights is appalled by the story of Emma, a twenty year old university student who was arrested and then served an exclusion notice that prevents her from attending university. “Since the CHOGM Special Regulations have been in place we have seen how these powers are arbitrary, unhelpful and open to abuse.   [...]
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Raided for no reason

By admin | Published: October 27, 2011
Emma is a twenty year old student who is also involved in a number of protest groups. She has never been arrested or participated in any disruptive or violent protests. She was given an exclusion notice and a fortnight ago her partner’s parents’ house was raided by police while they were there. The parents were [...]
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Arrest reveals absurd injustice

By admin | Published: October 25, 2011
The arrest of Sean Gransch reveals the tragic ridiculousness of Barnett’s ‘exclusion notices’, says Search For Your Rights spokesperson Pearl Lim. “Sean Gransch has worked for World Stages for over a decade and is a trusted employee of CHOGM.  The exclusion notice delivered to him yesterday unjustly removed his right to work and earn a [...]
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Perthnow: Environmentalist Sean Gransch charged with CHOGM breach an event worker

By admin | Published: October 25, 2011
See here for Perthnow reporting on Sean Gransch’s arrest.
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Exclusion Notices a New Low for Barnett

By admin | Published: October 24, 2011
CHOGM Exclusion notices delivered by the police to members of the community today are a new low in the Government’s hamfisted approach to law and order in WA. “Search For Your Rights understands the utmost need for security for this important event. However the Special Regulations are more than enough without arbitrary targeting of community [...]
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PerthNow: CHOGM activists warned – you’re not welcome

By admin | Published: October 24, 2011
See here for PerthNow’s story on the exclusion notices issued to activists early this morning.
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WAtoday: CHOGM protest organisers claim homes raided, phones confiscated

By admin | Published: October 14, 2011
See here for WAtoday’s story on Wednesday’s raids.
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Oppressive police tactics shock community group

By admin | Published: October 14, 2011
Police raids on the houses of three members of a community action group on Wednesday have been condemned by Search For Your Rights. “In two separate raids, three peoples’ homes were raided in a shocking demonstration of the type of heavy-handed tactics we at Search For Your Rights were fearful of in the lead up [...]
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National Party to Block Stop and Search Bill

By admin | Published: November 12, 2010
Today Colin Holt, the President of the National Party WA, indicated that all five Upper House National MLCs will vote against the passage of the Criminal Investigation Amendment Bill 2009. As the Government needed three National MLCs to vote with them to pass the bill, this effectively means that the stop and search legislation will [...]
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    • We want your help to protect civil rights in our society. The freedom to associate; freedom from arbitrary police attention; freedom of speech; and freedom of movement can all too easily be removed from our lives. The appearance of being ‘tough on crime’ all too often masks an inability of government to properly deal with social problems, and takes rights away from the people the government is intended to serve.
    • Search For Your Rights was originally founded to stop the Criminal Investigation Amendment Bill 2009 known as ‘stop and search’ laws. This Bill was rejected by the Legislative Council after eleven months of investigation found that the bill has no justification or benefit.
    • This legislation proposed to remove the requirement of reasonable suspicion. Removing the need for reasonable suspicion opens the door for unreasonable searches.
    • That bill failed to pass into law: thanks to the opposition of the community.
    • But bills like this keep on coming. The CHOGM Special Regulations and the Criminal Organisation Control Bill 2011 are just two recent examples.
    • These bills remove accountability and defence for victims; and they attack the cornerstones of our justice system. The Criminal Organisation Control Bill 2011 is not ‘anti-bikie’- it is anti-association.
    • We respect police, and we understand that they have a difficult job.  However, these laws will not increase safety.
    • Instead they will push the problem into different areas, decrease respect for police, and find nothing that the police do not already have the powers to find.

    • Are you ready to have your rights sacrificed for nothing?

    • You can help to protect your rights!
    • Write letters and emails to the Premier Colin Barnett, the Police Minister Rob Johnson or to your local MP. Click on the VOICE YOUR VIEWS link to see the addresses you can send your email to, or if you’re in a hurry send our form letter.
    • Be informed about your rights and opposition to arbitrary bills. Click YOUR RIGHTS in the menu for links to Legal Services Australia, and WORK TOGETHER for other groups who oppose this legislation.
    • The Criminal Investigation Amendment Bill 2009 was rejected by the Legislation Committee. If bills we oppose are in the Committee then anyone can make a submission to have their views heard. Click LEGISLATION COMMITTEE to see how you can do this.
    • STAY POSTED for future actions, protests and movements. Join our facebook group, visit this site regularly, or email searchforyourrights@gmail.com to get involved!

    • Search for your rights!