Traffic chaos, closed railway stations, security exclusion zones and random street searches may not be the only unwelcome sights confronting Sydneysiders during the APEC Summit in September.
NSW Deputy Premier John Watkins recently stated that the disruption during APEC will be "50 times" worse than that of the February visit of US Vice President Dick Cheney when the Harbour Bridge was closed off.
Less publicised is the fact that people could also likely to experience a large-scale military operation.
The Australian Defence Force has announced plans to use heavily armed SAS commandos on standby to protect government leaders and officials -- in addition to the presence of huge contingents of police, ASIO agents and foreign security personal.
Any perceived threat to the APEC participants, whether an alleged terrorist plot or political protest, could see the heavily armed SAS Tactical Assault Group called out on Sydney streets.
Significantly, no terrorist threat to APEC has been alleged. However, various groups have announced plans to protest the gathering, which will include US President George Bush, the architect of the invasion of Iraq, and the so-called "war on terror".
During an APEC security display at the Holsworthy Barracks last December, SAS troops with high-powered machine guns and wearing gas masks stormed buildings and took aim at targets.
You can see the photos on display on-line at the Department of Defence Media Room. They show SAS troops breaking down doors of homes and pointing weapons at the camera.
This is part of a wider attack on civil liberties and democratic rights, designed to intimidate and stifle legitimate dissent, including over the war in Iraq.
During US President Bush's 2003 visit to Canberra, air force jets also flew overhead, enforcing a "no-fly" zone. This may happen in Sydney too. The Daily Telegraph has reported that a helicopter with mobile phone jamming equipment will hover over President Bush's heavily armoured motorcade wherever it goes.
Changes to the Commonwealth Defence Act last year disturbingly enhanced the government's power to mobilise troops internally and give the military unprecedented domestic powers, including the right to interrogate civilians and seize documents.
Troops also have wider and legally protected rights to use lethal force, even to shoot down passenger aircraft.
It is now possible for the Prime Minister acting alone, to order troops onto the streets, if he thinks 'critical infrastructure' or a 'Commonwealth interest' is threatened by 'domestic violence'.
Alternatively, the government can give the Chief of the Armed Forces standing orders to active the military whenever he thinks it is necessary.
A callout order need not be in writing. Nor does notice have to be given to the public or parliament.
Thus, ordinary people may be confronted by troops on the streets, or on their doorstep, without knowing that a call-out has been ordered.
Moreover, few people know about these powers at all, because last year's amendments were passed with the Labor Party's support with virtually no public debate.
ADF members now have broad immunity from legal action even when their actions result in death, injury or loss. They are also protected by a defence of "superior orders", except if the orders were "manifestly unlawful".
These provisions raise the possibility of soldiers, who are specifically trained to shoot to kill, being responsible for incidents such as the 2005 killing of an innocent civilian in the London underground - Jean Charles de Menezes.
These laws erode the basic political and legal principle-dating back to the overthrow of the absolute monarchy in Britain in the seventeenth century-against using the armed forces to deal with civilian disturbances.
There is no reason to trust present or future federal governments will not use the powers to target social unrest, industrial action or political dissent.
Australia's history has many examples where the armed forces were called out for industrial and political purposes. They include the Chifley Government's dispatch of soldiers to break the coal miners' strike of 1949, the Fraser Government's use of the RAAF to ferry passengers during the 1981 Qantas strike and the Hawke Government's deployment of the air force against striking pilots in 1989.
Today it seems that the public is being conditioned to accept an ever wider use of the military against civilians.
Frequent "anti-terrorism" exercises are being used to accustom ordinary people to the sight of military helicopters over cities, SAS commandos scaling buildings and troops on the streets.
The navy has been used also to turn back refugee boats or forcibly transport asylum seekers to remote Pacific islands. The APEC summit may become another milestone in this creeping militarisation of Australian society.
. I would like to take a glipmse of George Bush as well. It is once in a life time chance to see the great leader of our time.
