http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,4234396%255E662,00.html ASIO could detain and strip-search children as young as 10 under sweeping new powers proposed for the domestic spying agency, a parliamentary committee heard yesterday. It could also interrogate detainees for up to 48 hours straight without providing access to a lawyer. Law Council of Australia spokesman Michael Rozenes QC told the committee that changes to ASIO's governing legislation, prompted by the events of September 11, could lead to unprecedented abuses of power. The Law Council and civil liberties groups say the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is in danger of becoming a secret police force. But ASIO director-general Dennis Richardson said changes were needed to fight international terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda. Under the new rules ASIO could detain not only terrorist suspects but anyone suspected of knowing about a possible terrorist threat. On a lighter note a P.I.Gs went under a horse yesterday... http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,4236739%255E421,00.html
