Terrorism vs Booze Buses

Since Osama bin Laden declared war on the West in a 1998 press conference, Australia has lost around 100 citizens to Islamist extremism. In response, our governments are pushing through very substantial changes to long-held principles of liberty.

Perversely, we had far more intelligent debate and analysis about relatively minor impositions to reduce the carnage on our roads - safety measures that have demonstrably saved the lives of several hundred Australians each year.

Surely "preventative detention", secret interrogations, electronic shackling and control orders require stronger public justification than booze buses and compulsory seat belts and helmets?