There could be constitutional problems with executive…
“There could be constitutional problems with executive detention if it is seen to be arbitrary. I didn't actually say that the NSW Government's proposed anti-terrorism bill was necessarily unconstitutional - that was sloppy journalism - I said that executive detention may raise constitutional problems if it is seen to be arbitrary as being an invasion of the judicial function.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Executive detention can threaten constitutional balance if applied arbitrarily, undermining judicial independence.
In simple terms: Arbitrary detention may breach constitution.
Guard against arbitrary executive power.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legislative drafting
- court challenges
- policy advocacy
- civil liberties monitoring
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can safeguards ensure detention remains non‑arbitrary?
- What criteria define “arbitrary” in this context?
Arbitrary standards are hard to define, risking over‑broad enforcement.