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Pre-Council History
The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties is a sub-branch of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties, established in 1936 The Australian Council for Civil Liberties gives a national voice for Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian civil liberties councils.

The continual violations of civil liberties in Queensland, specifically the suppression of civil rights during the anti-Vietnam War protests, led to the formation of the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties.

Meetings

On 20 June 1966, the first meeting to establish a Queensland Council for Civil Liberties was held. This meeting was disrupted by groups of left and right wing parties who disagreed on how to achieve the major objectives of the Council.

A second meeting was held on 19 August 1966, but again this meeting was infiltrated by The Catholic Action Group who aimed to prevent the Council obtaining a left-wing orientation. At this meeting The Catholic Action Group dominated the newly formed council with right wing views and changed the name of the civil liberties group to Queensland Association for Civil Liberties. Due to this takeover, many members withdrew. The Queensland Association for Civil Liberties later changed its name to the Ombudsman Association of Queensland.

A third attempt to create a Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, free of political or sectarian influence, was made at a private meeting on 19 October 1966. The development of this group succeeded and the group received recognition from the New South Wales and Victorian civil liberty groups

Civil Liberties and the Right to Strike

1948 - Railway Strike

The 1948 Queensland Railway strike was prompted by a low-wage policy introduced by the Halon Labour Government. Implemented during difficult post-war times, this policy aimed at attracting foreign and southern investment by maintaining marginal rates for workers.

In reaction to protests over wage restraints, the Labour Government used tactics to suppress workers from protesting. The Government issued the Industrial Law Amendment Act in order to prohibit protests and strike action. As well as that, a state of emergency was issued by the Hanlon Government. Police powers were extended, and through the initiation of these acts they were given the power to arrest citizens without a warrant and use force where necessary .Severe police brutality occurred during an illegal march on Saint Patricks Day, March 19 1948, when strikers were arrested, several demonstrators were hospitalised and union offices were raided. . Eventually, wage increases were granted and emergency powers were revoked.

During 1966, the Government commenced severe violations to civil liberties of Queensland citizens, this time in response to anti-Vietnam war demonstrations. The Federal Government of Australia introduced conscription in order to send Australian troops to the Vietnam War. In response to anti-Vietnam war protests, the Queensland Government introduced the Traffic Act. The Traffic Act required any group wishing to take part in street processions or meetings, display placards, amplify words or music near a road or distribute printed material on any road, to obtain a traffic permit issued from the district superintendent

The Founding Years
Membership To avoid infiltration by politically motivated groups the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties made membership open to anyone who subscribed to the aims outlined in the draft constitution. The council aimed to be both non-political, non-sectarian and neither anti-police nor anti-government.

Although the council is open to anyone, members must subscribe to the aims of the council of safeguarding any liberties remaining from any infringement by police of political action.

Over the years, the Council has faced trouble recruiting members and has often held low membership rates. When the council first began in 1966 there was low support from University lecturers and lawyers, as people in higher positions feared putting their job in jeopardy as a result of taking political action.

Communication

After the Council was formed on the 19th of October, 1966, led by President Jim Kelly,the Council began establishing itself as an important civil liberties group in Queensland.They began producing information to be distributed to citizens that would inform them of their civil rights. When the government made changes that impinged on citizens rights, the Council holds them accountable.

The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties has used newsletters as a form of communication between members. Due to low membership rates, newsletter distribution over the years has been sporadic (Clarke).

1967 - In this year the Council released its first booklet containing information that would assist citizens in their dealings with the Police. Entitled “The Citizen and the Police" it contained subsections such as Types of Arrest,After Arrest, Bail and Proceedings in Court.This is just one example of the work the Council performed in a time when their assistance was greatly required. An updated version of this booklet under the same title was released in 1982 by the Council.