As the threat of terrorism continues to grow, governments and security agencies have been given more power to protect the public. But at what cost?

On TGB’s launch episode of the Law and Life podcast, TGB managing partner Morry Bailes discusses the balance between security and freedom.

“Parliament can sell a message to the public that all they’re doing is acting in their (the public’s) interests but we’ve got to understand there is a balance between the preservation of such things as the right to silence, the right to self-incrimination, the right to privacy,” Mr Bailes told Law and Life.

“There’s a limit to the extent to which you should be able to be spied upon without knowing it, and our protection. This is about informing the community, because, when a terrorist event occurs, it focuses everyone’s mind. But, once again, just using a High Court Judge’s expression, it can be the death of these rights and privileges and freedoms by a thousand cuts. Are we ok with that as a society? Ultimately, what do we want the balance to be?”

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