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MEDIA RELEASE

Nicola Roxon MP Shadow Attorney-General

11 May 2006

UK’s Goldsmith shows Ruddock how to be a real Attorney-General

Nicola Roxon welcomed comments from the United Kingdom’s Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, who last night spoke out against the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

‘Lord Goldsmith has shown what a real Attorney-General does. Unlike Mr Howard’s dismal Attorney-General Mr Ruddock, Lord Goldsmith stands for human rights, fair process and the rule of law,’ Ms Roxon said.

‘Let’s remember, Lord Goldsmith is not afraid to take the steps needed to fight terrorism.’

‘His Government has taken a lead in putting in place laws to help apprehend terrorists before they fulfil their murderous plans. In fact, Mr Ruddock copied many of the ideas of Lord Goldsmith and his colleagues in last year’s anti-terrorism bill,’ Ms Roxon said.

‘But unlike Mr Ruddock, Lord Goldsmith understands that the fight against terrorism has to go hand-in-hand with defending the rights and freedoms that define our society. At the core of those rights is the right to a fair trial— something denied to the Guantanamo detainees.’

‘In 2004, Lord Goldsmith took action to ensure that UK citizens would not be subjected to the unfair military commission process that has been set up to try in-mates at Guantanamo Bay.’

‘To its shame, the Howard Government has failed to take any steps to demand a fair trial for Australian citizen David Hicks,’ Ms Roxon said.

‘It is not too late for the Howard Government to admit it has been wrong on this issue and start demanding that Mr Hicks be tried in a fair process.’

Thursday, 11 May 2006

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