On Air Highlights

Phone tapping in Australia the highest in the world

25 July 2011

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The latest report released by Australia’s Attorney-General’s Department shows 3,589 phone taps were approved across Australia in the year 2009-2010, making Australia the most phone-tapped nation in the world. A recent amendment to the Telecommunications Interception Act allows the federal police and ASIO to covertly monitor phone calls, texts and emails of anyone, even innocent people who may have unwittingly gotten in touch with someone suspected of a crime or considered a threat to national security.

Cameron Murphy is the President of Civil Liberties NSW. He told Phil Kafcaloudes legal ‘eavesdropping’ is so common in Australia that Australians are 26 times more likely to be tapped than the Americans.

Presenter: Phil Kafcaloudes

Speaker: Cameron Murphy, President of Civil Liverties New South Wales