The Wire

This week, the Federal Senate will debate new legislation that effectively allows mobile phones to be turned into tracking devices without a warrant. The legislation, the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendments Bill, was passed by The House of Representatives earlier this year with the support of both the Coalition and Labor. However, the Law Council of Australia, Electronic Frontiers Australia, the Democrats and the Greens have all expressed concerns about the legislation that they say places an extraordinary amount of unchecked power in the hands of law enforcement agencies. Greens Senator Kerry Nettle says the legislation represents a major threat to privacy and civil rights.