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There is a lot of trust in Australia that their elected officials and the public service / police will do the right thing. These new laws being introduced if us

There is a lot of trust in Australia that their elected officials and the public service / police will do the right thing. These new laws being introduced if used in the spirit they are intended could be good. The continual refusal of the current federal government to introduce a federal crime and misconduct commission as most of the states now have is a disturbing trend. For instance three local councils were placed under administration in my state after the elected leaders were found to be doing illegal things - the classic is the Lord Mayor of Ipswich being found with a suitcase containing $50,000 at an airport, he is now serving a jail term. So these laws, a refusal to have a watchdog, scaling back of FOI request responses, searching journalists homes by the AFP, are a disturbing trend in the federal arena. Looked at dispassionately you can only assume they're trying to hide something.

rpmisms 5y ago
> These new laws being introduced if used in the spirit they are intended could be good. That "if" is doing a lot of work. Gov't power will be abused. That's like, rule one of government.
grecy 5y ago
> These new laws being introduced if used in the spirit they are intended could be good We already know they won't. Here's [1] the Australian anti-terrorism Police arresting a young online journalist at his house, because he was asking probing questions to a politician that said politician did not like. Video of the incident clearly shows the Politician lied multiple times in his police statement (which is a crime). Yet the anti-terrorism taskforce was used to arrest this person at his house. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXtq4a8829g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXtq4a8829g
- quickthrower2 5y ago
  The task force set up because of the Lindt Cafe siege.
xvector 5y ago
> These new laws being introduced if used in the spirit they are intended could be good. Please find me an example of a government throughout any point in human history that has not turned on its citizens.
- dunco 5y ago
  every government that peacefully left office after electoral defeat?
  - xvector 5y ago
    that would be an administration, not government
- BoxOfRain 5y ago
  The only power that’s safe from abuse by an errant politician is one that politicians as a category aren’t allowed to wield to begin with. I think the best guiding principle for government is to ask yourself when faced with a proposed extension to the power of politicians this question: “would I be comfortable with politicians having this power if the Cabinet consisted of people who personally hated me”. If there’s any doubt, these powers can and will be used to abuse. The rights that protect the worst of society also protect the rest of it, we remove them at our peril.

rpmisms 5y ago

> These new laws being introduced if used in the spirit they are intended could be good. That "if" is doing a lot of work. Gov't power will be abused. That's like, rule one of government.

grecy 5y ago

> These new laws being introduced if used in the spirit they are intended could be good We already know they won't. Here's [1] the Australian anti-terrorism Police arresting a young online journalist at his house, because he was asking probing questions to a politician that said politician did not like. Video of the incident clearly shows the Politician lied multiple times in his police statement (which is a crime). Yet the anti-terrorism taskforce was used to arrest this person at his house. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXtq4a8829g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXtq4a8829g

quickthrower2 5y ago
The task force set up because of the Lindt Cafe siege.

xvector 5y ago

> These new laws being introduced if used in the spirit they are intended could be good. Please find me an example of a government throughout any point in human history that has not turned on its citizens.

dunco 5y ago
every government that peacefully left office after electoral defeat?
- xvector 5y ago
  that would be an administration, not government
BoxOfRain 5y ago
The only power that’s safe from abuse by an errant politician is one that politicians as a category aren’t allowed to wield to begin with. I think the best guiding principle for government is to ask yourself when faced with a proposed extension to the power of politicians this question: “would I be comfortable with politicians having this power if the Cabinet consisted of people who personally hated me”. If there’s any doubt, these powers can and will be used to abuse. The rights that protect the worst of society also protect the rest of it, we remove them at our peril.