| The Australian Greens say they are concerned that new anti-terrorism laws being debated in the Senate allow for the "political black-banning" of defence lawyers at terrorism trials. Greens leader Bob Brown says the bill gives bureaucrats in the Attorney-General's department the right to decide which lawyers are suitable to appear in some courts, by conducting background checks to ensure they do not pose a risk to national security. The legislation is expected to be passed with Labor's support. Senator Brown says aspects of the bill allow for the "extraordinary politicisation" of Australian courts, and should be stopped. "Release the list of prohibited lawyers - the black-banned lawyers," he said. "At least give the numbers of lawyers who have been put onto that list and the criteria for black-banning lawyers from Australian courts which is used by the Government to politically determine who is or who isn't suitable to come before Australian courts," he said. |