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Asset-Stripping The People Continued from page 32 1996-97 Bills Digest 40, About the Author: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/ Susan Bryce is an Australian journalist introduction of civil assets forfeiture bd/1996-97/97bd040.htm. 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 necessary weapon in the fight against No. 87, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/ crime, the war on drugs and the bid to _ other/alrc/publications/reports/87/. Australian Freedom & Survival Guide, which aims to undermine the pervad- bee mete oe we th wee nae 1996-97 Bills Digest 40, http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/ bd/1996-97/97bd040. htm. 2. "Confiscation that Counts: A review of the Proceeds of Crime Act", Report No. 87, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/ other/alrc/publications/reports/87/. 3. Forfeiture Endangers American Rights website, www.fear.org. 4. Cited in an article, "Asset Forfeiture", by Susan Meeker-Lowry, published in Z Magazine, http://www.lol.shareworld. com/zmag/articles/jan96meeker.htm. 5. "Labor sets the agenda on drugs and organised crime", Media Release, Duncan Kerr, 13 March 2001. 6. Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Digest 6 of 2001, 23 May 2001. 7. Australian Labor Party website: http://www.alp.org.au/policy/ platform2000/chapter_11.html. 8. The Senate committee reviewing the Bill was due to report to the Senate on 22 October. However, no further devel- opments are now expected until after the Federal election on 10 November [after we go to press. Ed.]. introduction of civil assets forfeiture laws. Both parties evidently believe that infringing on civil rights has become a necessary weapon in the fight against crime, the war on drugs and the bid to combat terrorism. For now, politicians and the compliant media will tell us that these laws will only be used to crack down on drug deal- ers, criminals and terrorists who are presently slipping through the cracks. However, the American experience quite clearly demonstrates that draconian enforcement methods do not work. If they did, American streets would not now be awash with more and better ille- gal drugs, at lower prices, than ever before. History shows us that assets confisca- tion was used to great effect by Nazi Germany, Communist China, the Soviet Union and Pol Pot's Cambodia. These schemes would be another dangerous step down an extremely slippery slope. oo ing myths surrounding the corporate consumer culture, globalisation and the New World Order. AF&SG AF&SG encourages public debate and ques- tioning of issues which are fundamen- tal to our future freedom and survival. These issues include genetic engineer- ing, food irradiation and related issues, Big Brother and the interna- tional surveillance regime, corporate a el Pe ee ee anne ne power and global governance, and self-sufficiency in the 21st century. Australian Freedom & Survival Guide is available by subscription (6 issues per year, A$45.00, US$37.00, £25.00). Send cheque payable to Susan Bryce, PO Box 66, Kenilworth, Qld 4574, Australia. For more details, visit the website www.squir- rel.com.au/~sbryce/. Endnotes 1. Australian Parliamentary Library, 82 = NEXUS Continued from page 32 www.nexusmagazine.com DECEMBER 2001 — JANUARY 2002