Melbourne 'Temporary' Police Powers: Six Months or Forever?
Victoria police have declared vast swathes of inner Melbourne a 'designated area' for six months, allowing warrantless pat-downs and vehicle searches. This 'temporary' measure, a 'vast overreach' according to human rights groups, is typically reserved for protests. One might recall similar 'emergency' powers implemented globally post-9/11 that never quite expired, slowly eroding civil liberties
piece by piece, from airport security theatre to mass surveillance. The authorities call this necessary for 'safety,' yet fail to specify the imminent, unprecedented threat justifying such a draconian, blanket measure over half a year. When has a powerful state, once granted such expansive powers, ever willingly relinquished them? How many 'temporary' restrictions does it take to create a
permanent police state?