[JURIST] An Australian lawyers group is describing new anti-terrorism legislation [JURIST report] proposed by Australian Prime Minister John Howard [official profile] as "draconian" and has called on regional governments to reject it. The Law Society of New South Wales [profession website] said Friday that the proposal threatened civil rights and Howard had failed to justify the expansion of police powers included in the legislation. The group called on New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma [official profile] to oppose the federal government plan. After initially rejecting the inclusion of sunset provisions [Sydney Morning Herald report] in the proposal, Howard appeared to take a step back Friday and leave open the possibility. Read the Law Society of New South Wales news release. The Australian has more.