Overseas readers may be interested in Australia’s proposed new “anti-terror” laws, namely Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005 which is currently moving its way through Parliament.

Of interest in particular is the definition of sedition (Schedule 7, proposed amendment to S 30A of the Crimes Act 1914):

seditious intention means an intention to effect any of the following purposes:
(a) to bring the Sovereign into hatred or contempt;
(b) to urge disaffection against the following:
(i) the Constitution;
(ii) the Government of the Commonwealth;
(iii) either House of the Parliament;
( c ) to urge another person to attempt to procure a change, otherwise than by lawful means, to any matter established by law of the Commonwealth;
(d) to promote feelings of ill-will or hostility between different groups so as to threaten the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth.

There has been some debate on the new definition, but no-one seems to have really come to a clear concensus about what it all means. I’m not sure what (d) means. The explanatory memoranda defines it as -

The effect of this is that seditious intention under new paragraph 30A(3)(d) may include an intention to promote feelings of ill-will or hostility between different groups. These ‘groups’ may include groups of people of all types, races, religions, political interests and nationalities.

Prime Minister Howard has ruled out dropping Schedule 7. ALIA has signed onto a submission by the Arts and Creative industries in response to the Bill. The Bill has been referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References and Legislation Committees .