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Banning organisations has a sorry history – does Australia really want to go down this road again? | Anne Twomey

The piece warns that past Australian bans on political groups were struck down by high court and harmed civil liberties.
Twomey argues banning organisations is historically risky and could be abused without due process.
The article recounts wartime bans, including the Industrial Workers of the World and the Communist Party, showing how power was used selectively.
The author notes the 1950 Communist Party Dissolution Act was struck down as unconstitutional.
The piece highlights procedural fairness concerns in ministerial declarations of hate groups.
The essay questions whether current hate laws align with historical limits of executive power.
Twomey emphasizes the risk that laws could be used to suppress civil rights without clear verdicts of guilt.
Historical bans often targeted broader groups beyond those convicted of crimes.
The article frames the debate as balancing national security against civil liberties.
The author cautions Australians to consider constitutional limits before enacting new hate-group bans.

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