Spy Agency's 'Fishing' Now Permanent: Who Knew?
The Australian government's push to cement ASIO's enhanced interrogation powers, first granted post-9/11 under 'emergency' pretenses, is framed as a civil liberties debate. As if every expansion of state power isn't preceded by 'critics say.' This isn't groundbreaking news; it's a replay. These 'temporary' powers, like a bad houseguest, inevitably overstay their welcome, becoming permanent
fixtures in the surveillance state's living room. Remember the Patriot Act? The initial 'temporary' measures became the new normal, eroding civil liberties under the guise of security. The real question isn't whether critics warn, but why these warnings are consistently ignored. It appears national security crises, real or manufactured, are excellent opportunities for governments to consolidate
power. The expanded offenses simply broaden the net. One might wonder if the 'fishing expeditions' are the point, not a side-effect. How many times must we witness the 'temporary' state of exception become legislative gospel before we recognize the pattern?