An old friend of mine – a prominent Melbourne barrister and human rights advocate Len Hartnett – told me the other day that he lives in a state of perpetual disappointment when he thinks of the ALP and human rights. And that condition has not been ameliorated when he observes the ALP’s pathetic lips zipped tight reaction to the oppressive and inhumane treatment of Dr Haneef, and the behavior of the law enforcement apparatus of the State over the past two weeks.

Not even when the country’s first law officer Philip Ruddock made sure that Dr Haneef was adjudged guilty by all when he snidely remarked that the doctor was attempting to leave Australia in a hurry – in other words he’s a crook.

Google the phrase Haneef+ALP in the news section and you come up with a grand total of zero references – as at 9am this morning. So let’s try Haneef+Rudd – bingo! But as you search desperately in the stories where you find the ”John Howard look and think alike” Rudd talking about Dr Haneef, your heart sinks. Here’s an AAP report from July 12:

Mr Rudd told reporters in western Sydney today he had no concerns about Dr Haneef’s continuing detention. “Yes, we will retain the existing anti-terror laws,” Mr Rudd said. “Yes I have confidence in (AFP Commissioner) Mick Keelty and the Australian Federal Police to handle this matter in an appropriate way.”

Well, Mr Rudd has never been known as a champion of human rights and the concept of fairness in the justice system, so maybe there are some brave backbenchers such as Tasmanian MP and lawyer Duncan Kerr or even Shadow A-G Joe Ludwig, who are a little more principled.

No – there’s nothing there. It’s a case of blindly following the leader on poor Dr Haneef. But maybe we are judging the ALP in haste.

Here’s a challenge – if any ALP federal, state or Territory MPs (ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope springs to mind) think that that to keep someone locked up without charging them for more than ten days is not OK, then let Crikey know.

Oh and why has it taken the legal profession’s peak body the Law Council of Australia, ten days to protest Dr Haneef’s continued detention? The LCA president, Tim Bugg, issued a media statement yesterday arguing that the anti-terror laws are not fair. Ah, DER! The Law Council is showing yet again just how ineffectual it is when it comes to media strategy.

It should have been out there with others, including Crikey, in protesting against the treatment of Dr Haneef from late last week, when it was as clear as daylight that the AFP would keep holding Dr Haneef until they pinned something on him, no matter how tenuous, because the anti-terror laws give them virtual carte blanche.