Civil libertarians concerned by Qld's phone tapping move
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Civil libertarians say the new powers involve a considerable intrusion into the privacy of people's lives. (AAP, file photo)
Civil libertarians are up in arms over moves to give Queensland Police and the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) police phone-tapping powers.
The Qld Government has been reluctant to allow telephone interception laws because of privacy concerns, but the Commonwealth has agreed to change federal legislation to set up a Public Interest Monitor.
Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence has welcomed the news and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson also says it will be an important tool.
Police Union president Cameron Pope says the move is long overdue.
"It's taken a long time, we are just happy now that they have announced it. It's a bad day for criminals, it's a very good day for the public and the police," he said.
But Terry O'Gorman from the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties says the public has a lot be concerned about.
"These new laws involve a considerable intrusion into the privacy of people's lives," he said.
"You can have a mobile tap on a particular mobile phone or a particular landline operating for 30 or 60 days straight; there can be an enormous amount of non-criminal conversation.
"Criminal cases will be compromised, police and prosecutors will get access to the private conversations of lawyers and their clients when they are preparing cases," he added.
