CLP Fails Hicks And Rule Of Law

Member for Lingiari and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon today called on the NT's two voiceless CLP representatives to publicly back CLP leader Jodeen Carney's call for David Hicks to be tried or set free.

Mr Snowdon said Ms Carney's statement echoed community sentiment, was consistent with the views expressed for some time by Labour and the other Opposition parties and it needed the strongest advocacy in Canberra.

'This is not about whether David Hicks is innocent or not, but about the rule of law,' he said.

'The concept of a person remaining innocent until proved guilty underpins our justice system.

'It's a fundamental Australian value and as it's something we in the Territory hold dear, we want to see it promoted and discussed.

'The Dynamic Duo have abjectly failed to do this and, as elected representatives, they're undermining our community.

'We've heard nothing from the Senator and a feeble regurgitation of the party line from the Member for Solomon.

'To say that Mr Hicks could have gone to trial if he'd recognised the validity of the US military tribunal is like asking him to throw away his right to a fair hearing

'But it underlines what many people recognise about their performance on the national stage.

'The CLP's roosters like to strut and crow in the Territory but they're gutless in Canberra,' Mr Snowdon said.

2007-01-30