"I'm beginning to feel more alarmed by our Government's conduct than about the risk of a terrorist attack"

It would appear that Julian Burnside QC is now acting for Scott Parkin. I really hope that he does stay and appeal this madness - although I wouldn't blame him if he wanted to get out of solitary confinement (and the country) and go home. Still, apparently he may be black listed from travelling outside the US again if he rolls over on this one. Having been labelled a 'security threat', it would be a little difficult to get a visa to travel overseas again. All this with no charge and no evidence - and the new 'anti-terrorism' laws aren't even in yet!

From the SMH:

Mr Parkin's lawyer said the Immigration Department had pressured the activist to drop his appeal by threatening to keep him in solitary confinement.

Julian Burnside, QC, said his client had been told by immigration officers that his deportation would be brought forward if he dropped his appeal to the Migration Review Tribunal to find out why his visa was revoked.

Mr Burnside described this as "factually false and legally improper".

"What they're doing, in effect, is saying: 'All right, we'll hold you here in solitary confinement until you dump your action,' and that's outrageous," he said.

The immigration department is yet to respond.

Mr Burnside said the Migration Act allowed appeal applicants to seek information even after they had been deported. It also requires visitors without visas to be deported as soon as practicable.

He said Mr Parkin's detention set a "disturbing precedent" for the Government's planned anti-terror laws, which had been criticised by civil libertarians.

"Here we've got a person locked up, at his own expense, and then removed from the country without ever knowing what he's supposed to have done," he said.

"Quite frankly, I'm beginning to feel more alarmed by our Government's conduct than about the risk of a terrorist attack."

Mr Burnside said he would consider taking the matter to court if the immigration department continued to hold Mr Parkin in detention.

"You would hope that you wouldn't have to go to a court to tell a government department to obey their own laws."

Funny that Mr Burnside is only just beginning to feel alarmed by our Government. I've been alarmed since 1996.

Oh, and as Jeff at News from Nowhere has been pointing out - Mr Parkin's big 'crime' in the US was the shocking act of dressing up as a fluffy tiger and running around the Exxon Mobile headquarters in Texas. I can see now why they believe him to be a security risk...