LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – Peter Russo became a household name lawyer in Australia following his representation of the former terror suspect Mohamed Haneef. The 28-year-old Indian doctor was detained by police without charge in Brisbane for 12 days in July.
He warned protesters at a rally in Brisbane today a Rudd Labor government could be just as conservative as the coalition and has called for a change of government, notwithstanding his views.
The community rally, at Queens Park in Brisbane’s CBD, has been organised by a coalition involving green groups, refugee advocates, indigenous people and the peace movement.
He was eventually charged with providing support to a terrorist organisation, but the Director of Public Prosecutions later dropped the charge.
His passport was returned and he left voluntarily for India on July 29 but the government cancelled his work visa – a move he has been fighting in the courts ever since.
In August, Federal Court Justice Jeffrey Spender reinstated Mr Haneef’s work visa, but lawyers for the federal government on Thursday launched an appeal against the decision.
