The democracy formerly known as Victoria

Welcome to your likely new reality in the Australian state of Victoria:

A new law introduced to the Victorian Parliament by the Brumby Government will give Victoria Police the power to search people randomly, and to strip search children and people with disabilities in violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms. A similar law has recently passed the lower house of the State Parliament in Western Australia.

These police powers are not only unnecessary, but in Victoria they are also a grave intrusion of fundamental human rights to dignity and privacy that are protected by the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

If the law is passed, it will be the first time since the introduction of the Victorian Charter that the Government has passed a law whilst at the same time acknowledging that the law unreasonably and unjustifiably limits human rights.

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