Whats the big hurry, Mr Howard?
The PM has failed to justify the rush to pass his IR and terror laws, writes Michelle Grattan. IT’S EASY to understand, in political terms, why John Howard is determined to rush his workplace relations and anti-terrorism legislation though Parliament before Christmas. Especially if he wants to bow out of the prime ministership next year. But it’s reprehensible. Both sets of changes are so far- reaching that they need and would benefit from much more scrutiny than will be possible before they become law. Apart from the limiting of civil liberties, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and others are now raising constitutional questions about the anti-terrorism measures, and Howard has had to agree to consultations between legal officers. It’s ridiculous to think the terrorism threat is so great it demands these laws be passed at once (or, if it’s so immediate, that the new law will head it off). Self-evidently, it would be desirable to take enough time to get the detail right. The argument f
