Preventative Detention in Peace, War, and the Age of Terrorism in Australia and the United States: a Comparative Constitutional Analysis
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PREVENTATIVE DETENTION IN PEACE, WAR, AND THE AGE OF TERRORISM IN AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED STATES: A COMPARATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS Katherine J. Nesbitt A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Laws Faculty of Law University of NSW PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dlssertatlon Sheet Surname or Family name: Nesbitt First name: Katherine Other name/s: Jackson Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: LLM School: Faculty: Law Title: Preventative Detention in Peace, War, and the Age of Terrorism in Australia and the United States: A Comparative Constitutional Analysis Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the United States and Australian governments have asserted that the threat o f terrorism requires the adoption o f preventative detention strategies to authorize the arrest and detention o f terrorists before they carry out their horrific acts. In the United States, the Bush Administration has authorized the preventative, and potentially indefinite, detention o f terrorist suspects as “ enemy combatants” or as “ material witnesses.” In Australia, Parliament passed legislation to amend its criminal code to authorize the imposition o f preventative detention and control orders in cases o f terrorism. This thesis examines and compares these preventative detention strategies employed by the US and Australia in the “ war on terrorism,” and analyses their constitutionality in light o f the US Supreme Court and Australian High Court precedent addressing the legality o f administrative detention in both times o f peace and times o f war. While the US Supreme Court, armed with the Bill o f Rights, has been more assertive in setting limits on the authority to detain individuals without charges, the analysis o f preventative detention in both countries has been confused and conflicting. As a result, the limits on preventative detention are difficult to discern under either US or Australian constitutional law. Nonetheless, in this thesis, I argue the preventative detention measures adopted in both jurisdictions in the war on terrorism are constitutionally invalid. While the Australian measures incorporate more procedural protections and safeguards from abuse than their US counterpart, and therefore are the more favoured approach, neither scheme is consistent with the fundamental principles and values underlying both the US and Australian systems o f criminal justice. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.1 retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses oniy). Signature Witness Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research._________________________________________________ FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS t ( * / 7 5 % 3 Originality Statement I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged. Signed Date VlfJJMheX ZOO(o COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.1 retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' SignedSigned PP JP P l . JP H . AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.' Signed Date Table of Contents A bstract.......................................................................................................................................................iv Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................v Originality Statement.............................................................................................................................vi Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter One: Alternative Frameworks of Democracy: Key Distinctions between the United States and Australian Systems of Government.................. 6 A. United States: Liberty Protected Through the Separation of Powers and the Bill of Rights................ 7 1. The Separation of Pow ers...................................................................................................7 2. The Bill of Rights................................................................................................................ 12 B. Australia: Protection of Liberty through Responsible Government..............17 1. Responsible Government and the Absence of a Bill of Rights.........................18 2. The Separation of Pow ers............................................................................................... 21 Chapter Two: Preventative Detention in Times of Peace...................................................26 A. United States: Due Process Constraints on Preventative Detention.............29 B. Australia: The Separation of Judicial Power As a Limit on Preventative Detention....................................................................................................47 1. Executive Detention and Usurpation of Judicial Power.................... 48 2. Judicial Detention and the Kable Doctrine.......................... 64 C. Conclusions...........................................................................................................................71 Chapter Three: Preventative Detention in Times of War................................................... 74 A. United States: Detention of Combatants, Enemy Aliens, and the World W ar II Internment Detentions........................................................................................75 B. Australia: Detention as an Exercise of the War Power........................................94 C. Conclusions............................................................................. .104 - 1 - Chapter Four: Preventative Detention in the Age of Terrorism ...................................106 A. United States: Preventative Detention of Enemy Combatants and Material Witnesses............................................................................................................................ 109 1. Enemy Combatants...........................................................................................................112 a. The AUMF and the November 13 Executive Order............................... 112 b. The Supreme Court's Response to Preventative Detention Under the November 13 Order.........................................................................116 Rasul v Bush..............................................................................................................117 Hamdi v Rumsfeld.....................................................................................................121 Padilla v. United States..........................................................................................129 Hamdan v United States...................... 133 c. The Detention