24 May 2006
We have more to fear from the State than we do from terrorists, a team of Monash University Law alumni successfully argued at the 2006 Monash Great Law Week Debate last night.
The affirmative team, comprising human rights advocate and barrister Mr Julian Burnside QC, World Vision Australia Chief Executive Officer Mr Tim Costello AO and former World debating champion Ms Meg O'Sullivan, was declared the winner.
They argued that the Federal Government's counter-terrorism laws did not protect Australians and debased democracy.
Mr Burnside said the State was infinitely more powerful than terrorists.
"The average worldwide death toll from terrorism each year is 600 to 700 people -- which makes it one of the least likely ways to die," he said.
"Westerners are one hundred thousand times more likely to die in a car accident than in a terrorist attack."
The negative team, comprising ABC radio presenter Mr Jon Faine; Co-Convenor of Monash's Global Terrorism Research Unit, Dr David Wright-Neville; and former world debating champion Ms Kylie Lane, argued that terrorism was a real and dangerous threat.
Dr Wright-Neville said in some parts of the world, notably Southeast Asia, Australians were potentially at greater risk of terrorist attack than Americans.
"Recent data shows the number of terrorist incidents around the world has increased substantially since 2001. Who is going to protect us from these maniacal fanatics if not the State?" he said.
But the negative team was unable to convince the judges, who were from the Law Institute of Victoria, Monash University and the Monash Association of Debaters, or the audience.
The Monash Great Law Week Debate is hosted by the Monash University Law School as part of Victorian Law Week.
For further information and photographs contact Ms Natasha Whalley, Media Communications on +61 3 9905 9201 or 0437 458 457 or Ms Jodi Rockman on +61 3 9905 2630 or 0403 244 268.
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