Rallies call for review of terror laws

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Rallies call for review of terror laws

Australian terror laws should be reviewed to avoid a recurrence of Dr Mohamed Haneef's unreasonable denial of liberty, rallies in Sydney and Melbourne have heard.

Addressing the Melbourne rally in support of former terror suspect Dr Haneef, Victorian Green Party Senate candidate Richard Di Natale said current legislation was a real cause for concern.

Dr Haneef was arrested in Brisbane last month following the botched terror attack on Glasgow airport.

He was charged with supporting a terrorist organisation but that was dropped for lack of evidence.

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews cancelled the doctor's working visa on character grounds just hours after a Brisbane magistrate granted Dr Haneef bail.

The doctor has since returned home to India.

"There's no doubt the immigration minister bungled his handling of this case," Dr Di Natale said.

"But all of the things that have happened have been allowable under the current legislation and that's the real worrying thing."

At Sydney's poorly attended rally - staged outside Town Hall - speakers called for Mr Andrews' resignation.

"(Mr) Andrews is guilty of using the media to paint Dr Haneef 'guilty by association' even though there is no basis for any terror charges against Dr Haneef," Stop the War Coalition spokeswoman Shannon Price said.

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"Kevin Andrews is guilty of abusing his powers under the Migration Act to override the court decision to grant (Dr Haneef) bail."

Refugee activists supporting the rallies have called for a judicial inquiry into the conduct of the immigration minister in the Dr Haneef affair.

NSW Greens senator Kerry Nettle said that as a starting point terror laws should be changed so suspects could not be held any longer than 24 hours without being charged.

"It doesn't mean you can't continue to investigate. It just means that you need to lay charges to keep holding someone," Senator Nettle said.

"When the government first tabled a change to the laws (to fight terrorism) they said it would be an extraordinary situation that meant someone would be held for 16 hours without charge.

"But the first time they are used someone was held for 12 days (without charge) - over 200 hours."

Dr Haneef was arrested on July 2 and detained for 12 days without charge. He was eventually released on July 27.

The Greens say they will call for a Senate inquiry into the Haneef case when federal parliament resumes next week.

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