Amnesty questions G20 security zone eviction plan
AUSTRALIA
PLANS to evict people from their homes if they fail federal criminal background checks during the G20 summit next year have been questioned by Amnesty International.
The human rights charity says the G20 (Safety and Security) Act, passed by the Queensland Government on Tuesday, goes too far.
The law allows police to evict people living inside security zones in Brisbane and Cairns during the November 2014 summit if they fail criminal record checks. They and their dependants, including children, will be barred from entering the secure areas and paid A$200 towards accommodation elsewhere.
Amnesty’s legal spokeswoman Katie Wood said that while it understood the need for security it was concerned there seemed to be no way to challenge a failure to pass the background checks.
‘‘On its face, this enhanced power to forcibly evict people – even though alternative accommodation would be provided – seems to be a case of overreach,’’ she said.
‘‘The consequences for this person may be significant – an unchallenged, possibly groundless eviction would inevitably lead those in the neighbourhood around the person to think less of that person or worse, believe that the person had some kind of criminal connection.’’
Queensland Police Minister Jack Dempsey said this week that background checks would be based on local and international intelligence and affect only a handful of people.
‘‘We are expecting 99 per cent of people will be able to go freely once they have had their crim history checked,’’ he told reporters.