[bigiain]

Out of the frying pan...

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/04/nsw-po...

"New South Wales police are on the verge of securing “extreme” new powers including to impose curfews on citizens, restrict who they spend time with or limit their communications, if they suspect involvement in “serious crime-related activity”.

The new “serious crime prevention orders” (SCPO) are similar to the control orders used on suspected terrorists, but broadened to a range of other offences including theft, tax evasion, money laundering or homicide.

Those acquitted of serious offences can still be issued a SCPO, as will people deemed to have engaged in conduct “likely to facilitate” a serious crime, defined as one punishable by at least five years’ prison."

Welcome to my local police-state.

[pmiller2]

> theft, tax evasion, money laundering or homicide.

What the actual fuck? This is despicable no matter what. They just have to be "suspected" to be subject to these insane powers?

But, the real insanity is that a crime like tax evasion is included in this list. Seriously. Tax evasion? Now, I know that the thing these all have in common is that they're commonly purpetrated by the mob and all, but tax evasion just doesn't rise to the level of homicide or even money laundering.

[mcbits]

You don't want tax evaders out after 9pm, prowling around and evading taxes in the shadows, do you? Actually, I suspect the tax evasion and money laundering are mostly referring to drug-related crime without calling it out explicitly and arousing (more) controversy.