APEC: like Sydney during the Olympics, but in a bad mood

The event will see 21 of the world’s most powerful people – including the US President and leaders of Japan, Russia, China and Indonesia (each with personal security detail), high-level bureaucrats, business leaders and media representatives – descend upon the city.

Between 6,000 and 7,000 executive hotel rooms will be required, with the US President and his entourage rumoured to require an entire five-star hotel just for themselves! Security bill estimates, taking into account thousands of federal and state police plus the SAS, begin at $15 million!

During the summit, the CBD will be cordoned off, roads closed and public transport affected. There will be a closer watch for threats of terrorism and introduction of new police powers and penalties.

There are concerns that any new police powers remain proportionate to risk – in particular that distinctions are clearly maintained between “activist” and “terrorist”.

It is also important that powers granted in the wake of race riots in Cronulla not be extended to deal with the very different situation of public demonstrations against globalisation or war.

Sydney will follow Shanghai’s lead and implement a special public holiday on 7 September to encourage locals to vacate the Sydney metropolitan area. Understandably, the Government is keen to make a good impression on influential visitors, and to avoid the embarrassment of civil dissent as well as terrorist activity.

In view of the APEC summit, legal professionals point out that the right to political protest is a valuable component of a democratic society. It is noted that activists, many of them younger people, should be entitled to express themselves peaceably.

However, the prospect of new police powers including preventative detention (detaining a person suspected of intent to commit a crime) and covert search warrants, rings alarm bells. It would be tragic if younger activists or other vulnerable members of the society were to find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The prominence of APEC is a reflection of our region’s economic progress. But the millions of dollars spent on security reveal the underlying fragility of our economic and political systems.

We pay a high price for our freedom, and may even be willing to exchange personal and social freedoms for the right to free trade and better business relations. Exactly how high a price are we willing to pay? A local solicitor puts it this way: “It’s so important that we look out for each other. APEC will be like Sydney during the Olympics. But this will be Sydney in a bad mood.”

The NSW Ombudsman will monitor the situation with respect to new police powers implemented in the run-up to APEC. To view the latest discussion papers visit http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/whatsnew/latestmedia.html

Source: South Sydney Herald June 2007 www.southsydneyherald.com.au/