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This sort of thing happens because the tech industry doesn't bother with lobbying or really any political fighting other than the occasional angry letter. Mean

This sort of thing happens because the tech industry doesn't bother with lobbying or really any political fighting other than the occasional angry letter. Meanwhile, the mining industry successfully countered a law they didn't like a few years ago by spending a few million on tv advertising demonising the government. The gambling industry got rid of a law by suing the government. The banking industry managed to convince the regulator to not use their powers through a combination of making it extremely costly and basically infiltrating them. Only the tech industry is like children when it comes to lobbying and politics. Ideally, every industry would be like the tech industry and not manipulate the government. But if they want to get rid of this particular law then there is plenty of examples to learn from.

dwd 8y ago
You mean by offering some future payback whether a cushy overpaid consulting or lobbying job or an industry recognition award like Barnaby Joyce got from Gina? I think witholding future products or services and running ad campaigns to say they wont be offering them in Australia due to the law would be the way to do it. If we could collectively get our act together, boycotting Federal Government for IT services would get the message across - chance of that happening is probably <1%.
- chillfox 8y ago
  All of it. Basically what I am saying is that if the tech industry doesn't want the risk of future laws ruining their fun then they will have to engage in lobbying just like everyone else. Sitting back and relying on the politicians to not do anything stupid is, well stupid... Stupid is the default. In this particular case an advertising campaign is probably the only thing that is going to work, but with an election in the not too distant future, it should be pretty efficient in scaring the politicians into getting rid of the law.
  - dwd 8y ago
    I'm coming around to the opinion that anything the Government does (particularly if they think it's a clever policy) triggers the Law of Unintended Consequences. Except for some situations where they correct or curtail market excesses, most programs seem to end up causing more damage than they try to solve and worse outcomes long term. One of the few exceptions was Rudd simply handing out cash to the general population in the middle of the GFC to keep the economy turning over. Generally most incentives don't have the desired effect.

dwd 8y ago

You mean by offering some future payback whether a cushy overpaid consulting or lobbying job or an industry recognition award like Barnaby Joyce got from Gina? I think witholding future products or services and running ad campaigns to say they wont be offering them in Australia due to the law would be the way to do it. If we could collectively get our act together, boycotting Federal Government for IT services would get the message across - chance of that happening is probably <1%.

chillfox 8y ago
All of it. Basically what I am saying is that if the tech industry doesn't want the risk of future laws ruining their fun then they will have to engage in lobbying just like everyone else. Sitting back and relying on the politicians to not do anything stupid is, well stupid... Stupid is the default. In this particular case an advertising campaign is probably the only thing that is going to work, but with an election in the not too distant future, it should be pretty efficient in scaring the politicians into getting rid of the law.
- dwd 8y ago
  I'm coming around to the opinion that anything the Government does (particularly if they think it's a clever policy) triggers the Law of Unintended Consequences. Except for some situations where they correct or curtail market excesses, most programs seem to end up causing more damage than they try to solve and worse outcomes long term. One of the few exceptions was Rudd simply handing out cash to the general population in the middle of the GFC to keep the economy turning over. Generally most incentives don't have the desired effect.