AUSTRALIA'S VERSION OF "QUALIFIED IMMUNITY"
WHAT IS 'QUALIFIED IMMUNITY' AND HOW DOES IT APPLY IN AUSTRALIA?
Folks, this is a very hot subject in the United States at the moment, with a very large movement campaigning to have something called 'qualified immunity' overturned. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Well, the qualified immunity in the US is based on a court case that ruled in favour of a police officer that states the reasonable actions of a police officer should be immune from prosecution because they are apparently doing their job in a reasonable manner. So what does this actually mean?
Have you noticed that police in the US scream out statements like "STOP RESISTING", and also make statements in court like "I FEARED FOR MY LIFE"? These are now routine statements made by police in the US to avoid scrutiny when they use 'excessive force' AKA known as Criminal Assault, or when they kill someone while on duty. Those two statements apparently 'prove' that their actions were made by a 'reasonable person'. Yep that's the guts of it, so a case that set a precedence also set the scene for police violence against ordinary citizens, and MURDER.
In Australia, you may have noticed that police in all States now repeatedly shout "STOP RESISTING" when they use excessive force (AKA known as Criminal Assault). It gets them off the hook, because in most States the legislation is fairly clear about what is 'reasonable force' used to overcome a person being detained or arrested. The statement "STOP RESISTING" covers them off in a similar manner to how it is used in the US.
Of particular note that a lot of States in the US are now getting rid of 'qualified immunity' and are also prosecuting cops. They are also banning the use of choke holds - which is actually not quite right because police are taught how to use 'strangle holds'. A choke hold blocks the air way, a strangle hold cuts off the blood supply to the brain. Police are also taught something else, and I have heard it called "PAIN COMPLIANCE". I will leave it up to your imagination as to what that can and does mean.
I think we have room here in Australia for a campaign to change the legislation in each State to get rid of our versions of 'qualified immunity' folks.
It is also noted that police unions are a problem in the US, because of the power they wield in political circles. It is no different here in Australia - and particularly so in Queensland.
So, ideas, just what do you folks want to do about this in Australia. If there was any time to act, NOW is the time.
FOLKS please leave your comments in the discussion section of this petition. I will make sure they all get tabled in Parliament when this petition is submitted. Please share this petition among your networks/family/friends/contacts and lets really drive home the message that violence against ordinary citizens is no longer acceptable.