Book Review: Guardian of Your Rights

Since it was formed in 1966, the Queensland Council of Civil Liberties (“the QCCL”) has long been acknowledged as a powerful voice and bastion of civil rights.  No doubt, readers will be familiar with the valuable work of this organisation.  Since its inception, its numbers have grown and now exceed 200 members.

The author, Eddie Clarke, has written an excellent book to mark the 40^th anniversary of the QCCL.  With meticulous detail, the author chronicles the work of the QCCL and its relationship with the colorful and sometimes dark times of the last four decades in Queensland history.

The desire to create a civil liberties organisation began in the shadow of the Queensland Government’s repression of civil liberties during anti-Vietnam War protests. The first public AGM was held on 29 March 1967 and the QCCL has worked tirelessly to promote civil liberties ever since.¹ All this makes an interesting subject for a publication.  

Some notable members of the QCCL include current Judges, a former Queensland Governor, the current Commonwealth Governor-General, former Queensland Premier, Wayne Goss, practitioners, academics and everyday people who all assiduously volunteer their time to advocate for the protection of civil rights.  Many well-known names appear in these pages including the formidable and enthusiastic Terry O’Gorman AM who has played a pivotal role in many of Queensland’s famous civil rights campaigns and our colleague Stephen Keim SC whose defence of Dr Mohamed Haneef exemplified the spirit of the QCCL.

The book is conveniently divided into two (2) sections.

Section A describes why organizers took the initial steps to establish the QCCL.  It examines the nature of civil liberties and the major threats to those liberties.  It contains four (4) substantive chapters:

•    Civil liberties and its opponents;

•    The establishment of the QCCL, 1966;

•    Organisational developments², 1966 — 2007; and

•    The Council’s relationship with Political Parties.³

Section B covers the more important civil liberties issues in which the QCCL has been involved. Indeed, it is fair to say that the QCCL has never been timid on important issues such as the anti -Vietnam protest in 1966; the 1971 Springbok Tour; the TEAS demonstration; the Government’s ban on protest marches, 1977 — 1979; and the Aboriginal protests during the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.  These important issues are examined in this section of the book.

Section B contains sixteen (16) substantive chapters although readers should not be deterred about the number of chapters as they are relatively slender. Some chapters include:

•    Peaceful Assembly and Protest;

•    Indigenous Rights;

•    Government powers and accountability;

•    Drugs;

•    Privacy and Surveillance; and

•    Informing and educating the public.

Certainly any person interested in the protection of civil rights will be interested in this fascinating publication.  Mr Clarke has written a substantial and fair minded history of the QCCL⁴ over the last 40 years.  It deserves a wide readership. It can be purchased from the Supreme Court of Queensland Library for $38.50 (www.sqlqld.org.au). To download an order form, CLICK HERE.

Roly O’Regan

Footnotes

1. See the home page on the QCCL website.

2. This chapter profiles each of the nine presidents of the QCCL. There is a very interesting account of the pre and post Bjelke-Petersen era where the QCCL’s valuable work started to bear fruit.

3. There is no denying that the QCCL has had at various times, a frosty relationship with political parties.

4. Those readers who are interested in becoming a member of the QCCL, please visit their website – http://www.qccl.org.au/