Simon Lauder reported this story on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
[TONY EASTLEY: The laws that Australia uses to combat people smugglers may be unravelled by a challenge in a Melbourne court today.
Lawyers representing dozens of Indonesian men awaiting trial on people smuggling charges will argue that people smugglers are legally entitled to assist asylum seekers.
As Simon Lauder reports, the challenge could have implications for hundreds of cases.
SIMON LAUDER: On numbers alone the men awaiting trial on people smuggling charges are testing Australia's justice system.
Senior public defender at Victoria Legal Aid, Saul Holt says the number is 350 nationwide, and 54 of those have been moved to Victorian courts.
SAUL HOLT: It is unusual. The situation is that in the Northern Territory, where most of these cases were prosecuted originally, they've simply run out of court space and so the cases are being moved around the country.
SIMON LAUDER: Now Victoria Legal Aid is looking for a quick way to resolve those cases, by challenging the very law the men are charged under.
Twenty-year-old Indonesian man, Jeky Payara is accused of "aggravated people smuggling", a charge that applies when more than five asylum seekers are brought to Australia by boat.
Mr Saul says Jeky Payara will be a test case if a county court judge agrees to refer it to the Victorian Court of Appeal today.]
Full story at "ABC AM"
Daniel 12
World English Bible
1"At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. 2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 4But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased."
5Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on the river bank on this side, and the other on the river bank on that side. 6One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8I heard, but I didn't understand: then I said, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things? 9He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
10Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. 11From the time that the continual [burnt offering] shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. 12Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days. 13But go you your way until the end; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days.
