Orwell’s 1984 in Australia
OT news / p2pnet: I just got an email from a very concerned friend of mine who manages a theatre. It contains text from a draft piece of legislation to "amend the law relating to terrorist acts".
It’s the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005 and, if passed by the Australian senate, will probably become the Anti-Terrorism Act 2005. And that’s The Law for those who aren’t familiar with workings of the Australian government.
One of the most frightening things about this document is it’s definition of "seditious intent", which reads
(3) In this section:
seditious intention means an intention to effect any of the following purposes:
(a) to bring the Sovereign into hatred or contempt;
(b) to urge disaffection against the following:(i) the Constitution;
(ii) the Government of the Commonwealth;
(iii) either House of the Parliament;(c) to urge another person to attempt, otherwise than by lawful means, to procure a change to any matter established by law in the Commonwealth;
(d) to promote feelings of ill-will or hostility between different groups so as to threaten the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth.
Read that again, and take a minute until it settles in.
Anyone with an IQ greater than their shoe size will soon realise this document in effect brings Australians scarily close to the society George Orwell detailed in 1984. This document will make it illegal to criticize the Australian government.
And it looks like it’s going to be rushed in.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports "Australian intelligence authorities have received specific information about a terrorist threat in Australia, Prime Minister John Howard says. As a result, an amendment to Australia’s anti-terror laws making it easier to prosecute people thought to be planning a terrorist attack has been rushed into parliament today."
You can read the draft document here. Just ignore the warning on the first page stating "DRAFT-IN-CONFIDENCE – This draft is supplied in confidence and should be given appropriate protection."
And then kick up the biggest stink about this that you can (because you might not be allowed to for much longer).
International readers – help us out on this one…please?
Alex H, p2pnet development manager – Sydney, Australia
[Alex is an operations manager for an ATM (automatic teller machine) supplier and he specialises in infrastructure development and maintenance, and logistics. He’s also an[other] active member of the Shareaza community.]
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November 2nd, 2005 at 8:29 pm
“seditious intent”? “urge disaffection” ? WOW. No room for abuse of government power there, eh? When do they set up the check points?
MAY I ZEE YOH PAYPAZ PLEEEZE!? SCHNELL!
“International readers – help us out on this one…please?”
How might a yank help out?
November 3rd, 2005 at 4:10 am
Wow, i figured johnnie must get annoyed at all those nicknames the media have for him, but this is a bit of an over reaction.
This is, of course, just another example of Law in Oz, the most regulated, legislated country in the world. Did you know that the Oz Goods and Services Tax law’s definition of a “Service” is a larger document than the entire New Zealand Goods and Services Tax law document?
Considering the Oz govt’s fondness for making laws retroactive, that is they’re written so they apply before they were even thought up let alone passed, i’m wondering when i’ll get a friendly visit from the feds about all my “anti govt” comments on this board in the past. Well if i stop posting all of a sudden, you’ll know why.
BTW this whole 1984 thing is always taken out of context. If you’ve read the book you’ll know that “big brother” never spied on the voters. Only the bureacrats that made up the govts ministries. Of course that was a large chunk of the population apparently but nonetheless.
November 3rd, 2005 at 6:55 am
Holy Shit!
I never thought that I would see the day something like that would come to pass in a democratic government. Damn, I certainly hope this doesn’t pass, and if it does then it’s time to clear out all the elected officials who voted for this and bring in a new set.
How can a US citizen help?
November 3rd, 2005 at 8:34 am
One of the best ways you can help is by making other people aware of what’s going on. You might want to start by copying the definition of “seditious intent” (or the whole article as it’s CCed) and emailing it to your friends, family, whoever. Email your own government if you like and ask them to express your country’s concern to Australia.
If you’d like to send a message to the big wigs who’ll make this thing law, you can email them too. (throw-away addresses may come in handy)
Governor General, Michael Jeffery
governor-general@gg.gov.au
John Howard (our PM) doesn’t publicize his email address, but you can fill out a webform here: http://www.pm.gov.au/email.cfm
Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley
Kim.Beazley.MP@aph.gov.au
Shadow Foreign Affairs (and International Security) Minister, Kevin Rudd
Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au
A full list of contacts can be found at http://www.aph.gov.au/whoswho/index.htm
You might like to just pick some random names as well – the more people who start getting angry emails about this, the better.
Thanks for your help guys – we’ll need it!
Alex H
November 3rd, 2005 at 9:01 am
How do you stop terrorism through this shit? I’d expect this from americans not austrailians. Maybe some think this is neccessary for the greater good of the government of the commonwealth and the pride and security of austrailia but it just seems like full on totalitarianism. you want some help? run for your lives.Oh and howie, if you decide to attack NZ tell me in advance.
November 3rd, 2005 at 9:10 am
use my garage in west auckland as a hide out, Maybe start a revolution, consider leaving austrailia, become “terrorists”, set up an organised resistance when they come hunting for you and your compatriots in order to toture and probably kill you, have a cry?
November 3rd, 2005 at 2:38 pm
Yes folks, history is repeating itself once again. When the guns go, genocide comes. Providing a way for the average citizen to protect his freedom and house is the main reason for the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The threat of overwhelming force works both ways.
If this passes and is upheld by the court system, it would be time for the population of OZ to rise up and defend itself. Imagine if what is happening in France started happening in every city in OZ. Imagine if this anger was directed ONLY at government and its enforcers, the police. It is good that the government in OZ is taking such an audacious step because this type of action because it may anger a lot of people into taking action. If people allow this to happen and do not put a stop to it, then then genocide will surely ensue.
By the way, I am not a hooligan. I believe in law and order and the RULE OF LAW. What this legislation does is provide immunity to those in government so that THEY can break laws AT WILL. People should respect the law and fight this. Fighting this should be done in the courts, at the ballot boxes, and if all else fails, in the streets. Country after country is falling to the multinational polical-corporate alliances of this day. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!
November 3rd, 2005 at 8:37 pm
huh?