Haneef secrecy puts inquiry into 'impossible position'
Posted
Dr Haneef was arrested last year on a terrorism-related charge that was later dropped. (AFP: Dibyangshu Sarkar, file photo)
Lawyers for Dr Mohamed Haneef says the inquiry into their client's arrest has no credibility if key details are kept secret.
The head of the inquiry, former Supreme Court Judge John Clarke, says it is not possible to release all the material about the arrest of the former Gold Coast doctor without jeopardising national security or pending criminal court cases overseas.
Dr Haneef was arrested last year on a terrorism-related charge that was later dropped.
But his lawyer Rod Hodgson says there is no way to test the accuracy of the secret evidence.
"Mr Clarke's statement makes it clear that he's in an almost impossible position," he said.
"He's unable to resist pressure from agencies that have vested interests in avoiding public scrutiny.
He said these difficulties could be avoided if the Attorney-General were to vest the Clarke inquiry with Royal Commission powers.
"This affair concerns human rights and it concerns our national security," he said.
"The horse flu inquiry was given Royal Commission powers - our national security and our human rights cannot be any less important than the health of our horse industry."
