In Australia there are currently 6 sets of Bills before our legislators. The three most worrying Bills, according to civil rights activists, are 1) The Security Legislation (Terrorism) Amendment Bill, 2) The Suppression of Financing of Terrorism Bill and 3) the ASIO Amendment Act. These three bills alone are causing activists, church leaders, union officials and some politicians of all persuasions to question the real motives behind these repressive proposals. For some the parallels between the current proposals and the laws passed during the infamous "McCarthy" era of the 1950s are striking.

These concerns were given voice, in part, at the first Reclaiming Australia Conference held in Melbourne's Trades Hall in Early April. Organised by the Public First Campaign and titled Fighting for Our Civil Liberties the conference examined some of the issues these proposed legislation raise and the concerns held by those who wish to see them defeated in the Parliament.