PM 'trying to dodge constitution'

The Advertiser: PM 'trying to dodge constitution' ]:

"PRIME Minister John Howard was trying to circumvent the constitution by getting the states and territories to pass anti-terror legislation he is forbidden to introduce, ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said today."

Well, he made a unilateral decision about sending troops to Iraq and getting us involved in a "war", relying on us supporting the troops once they were there. All of that issue has been far better discussed in Britain.

As for bypassing our constitution. Is that what we want ? I accept and understand there is a necessity in this weird and wasteful world to have the toolas at our disposal to deal well and effectively with those who would use innocents against innocents. Those who would explode us because we happen to be there. Those who would mess with trains, aircraft, stations, public venues in the most heinous way and then destroy innocent people. We do have to find a way of dealing with this and our state leaders did want this meeting. Whatever we decide has to be within our laws and constitution. Since people who would explode us don't work in a co operative fashion and are apt to flout trust, I think we need to have a way of dealing with those sorts of suspects quickly. The London bombings , though, demonstrate how easy it is to name the wrong names, get the picture up the spout and generally cause grief and heartache for communities and families. Being held as a suspect is as bad as being accused. Shoot to kill laws are going down very well , don't you think? I believe our state leaders will hammer this out and our lawyers will have plenty to say. We need to talk , we need to listen and we have got to be very clever and cunning! It's a mind game as much as anything.