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Asset-Stripping The People About the Author: Continued from page 32 1996–97 Bills Digest 40, h t t p : / / w w w . a p h . g o v . a u / l i b r a r y / p u b s / Susan Bryce is an Australian journalist introduction of civil assets forfeiture b d / 1 9 9 6 - 9 7 / 9 7 b d 0 4 0 . h t m . and author of more than 70 published laws. Both parties evidently believe that 2 . "Confiscation that Counts: A review research articles. Susan publishes the infringing on civil rights has become a of the Proceeds of Crime Act", Report Australian Freedom & Survival Guide, necessary weapon in the fight against No. 87, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/ which aims to undermine the pervad- crime, the war on drugs and the bid to o t h e r / a l r c / p u b l i c a t i o n s / r e p o r t s / 8 7 / . ing myths surrounding the corporate combat terrorism. 3 . Forfeiture Endangers American consumer culture, globalisation and For now, politicians and the compliant Rights website, www.fear.org. media will tell us that these laws will 4 . Cited in an article, "Asset Forfeiture", the New World Order. A F & S G only be used to crack down on drug deal- by Susan Meeker-Lowry, published in Z encourages public debate and ques- ers, criminals and terrorists who are M a g a z i n e, http://www.lol.shareworld. tioning of issues which are fundamen- presently slipping through the cracks. c o m / z m a g / a r t i c l e s / j a n 9 6 m e e k e r . h t m . tal to our future freedom and survival. However, the American experience quite 5 . "Labor sets the agenda on drugs and These issues include genetic engineer- clearly demonstrates that draconian organised crime", Media Release, ing, food irradiation and related enforcement methods do not work. If Duncan Kerr, 13 March 2001. issues, Big Brother and the interna- they did, American streets would not 6 . Senate Standing Committee for the now be awash with more and better ille- Scrutiny of Bills, Digest 6 of 2001, 23 tional surveillance regime, corporate gal drugs, at lower prices, than ever May 2001. power and global governance, and before. 7 . Australian Labor Party website: self-sufficiency in the 21st century. History shows us that assets confisca- h t t p : / / w w w . a l p . o r g . a u / p o l i c y / Australian Freedom & S u r v i v a l tion was used to great effect by Nazi p l a t f o r m 2 0 0 0 / c h a p t e r _ 1 1 . h t m l . G u i d e is available by subscription (6 Germany, Communist China, the Soviet 8 . The Senate committee reviewing the issues per year, A$45.00, US$37.00, Union and Pol Pot's Cambodia. These Bill was due to report to the Senate on £25.00). Send cheque payable to schemes would be another dangerous 22 October. However, no further devel- ¥ Susan Bryce, PO Box 66, Kenilworth, step down an extremely slippery slope. opments are now expected until after the Federal election on 10 November [after Qld 4574, Australia. For more E n d n o t e s we go to press. Ed.]. details, visit the website www.squir- 1 . Australian Parliamentary Library, r e l . c o m . a u / ~ s b r y c e / . 82 • NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com DECEMBER 2001 – JANUARY 2002