Terrifying misconduct

Third, whenever the media prints information leaked by the Australian Federal Police, ASIO or any other government agency alleging that some individual or group in this country has terrorist links, again the Arar case shows that such leaking is sometimes done with scant regard for the truth.

Fourth, what the Arar case tells us is that the intelligence gathering by security agencies and police forces in the war on terror is likely to harm many innocent people. How can Australians be assured that faulty information is not being used to persecute their fellow countrymen?

Finally, will the Australian Government guarantee that it has not, and will never, assist the Americans in deporting Australian citizens to countries such as Syria which have no prospect for human rights?

You can expect that the answer to that last question by Mr Howard, Mr Ruddock and Mr Downer will be an unequivocal No.

They have shown, through the introduction of anti-terrorism laws and their treatment of David Hicks, that they are prepared to throw out the rule of law when it comes to the war on terror.

Arar is the hero here, not the politicians and police.