23 ms·

Yet again, and of course as usual, the government of Australia demonstrating how much they value their citizens by totally ignoring them in favour of big busine

Yet again, and of course as usual, the government of Australia demonstrating how much they value their citizens by totally ignoring them in favour of big business. Good job Tony.

PebblesHD 11y ago
Also, of interest: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-go/porn-will-be-next-on-australias-websiteblocking-agenda-20150624-ghw60w.html http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-... In moves surprising nobody, leaders and party figures have already suggested using these new laws as a stepping stone to blocking other objectionable content such as pornography and who knows what else.
crdb 11y ago
Whilst I agree with your sentiment as a legal permanent resident of Australia, I think it is dangerous (if very seductive) to blame Mr Abbott. He's been the party attack dog for so long that people focus their energy on making it personal with him (much as the Democrats focus on Bush and the Republicans have a thing for Obama). First, from the little I've been tracking this issue, it appears it was the "relatively moderate", friendly, centrist, old guard Turnbull that was behind these moves. Chances are it's done as a favour to someone in Washington who needed something from someone connected to the Hollywood lobbies. Not the strongest of motives and the kind of thing that popular opinion can reverse. Second, legislation doesn't magically happen in a vaccuum when the PM says so. Australians, you MUST get in touch with your local politician, both to let them know (politely) how you feel about certain issues, and to give them arguments to use in Canberra if you want any chance of legislation being passed the way you like it. It's not about Labour vs Liberals. Whoever has been locally elected, is now responsible for listening to you. They also don't do much thinking so it helps to do it for them: "This proposed legislation infringes individual rights like this, this and this; moreover, as per the Constitution, that" goes much further than "I am pissed at you for letting the PM get away with it". This is of course not a personal response to your comment, but a general note that I thought about and that was triggered by your Tony note. I've found Australians relatively politically disengaged, with the general opinion - at least in Sydney - basically being "they're all scumbags anyway, things will work out in the end", followed by some expletives about Gillard, Rudd or Abbott depending on where the Australian leans...
- tacticus 11y ago
  Turnbull is certainly not centrist nor friendly.
  - programmernews3 11y ago
    Turnbull is a hoop snake in drop bear clothing.
- PebblesHD 11y ago
  A very good point, and well written. My only observation is this: politics doesn't happen in a vacuum, but the current government has set about ignoring polls and comments from the public on a range of other issues making me less inclined to believe they will shift for this one. That being said Labor isn't innocent of this either. My local member has on several occasions refused to even answer calls or meet me to discuss this, based only on the fact that as a young adult my opinion must not be valid.
  - crdb 11y ago
    That's pragmatic, he/she made the calculation that you have little political weight. Chances are there are people who contributed to his/her campaign or who are members of the community with more pull, and that you and your family aren't part of that group, and current members of that group disagree with you on the topics you brought up to your member. Or maybe he just did the maths and decided that an hour's meeting would have a higher return on investment with someone else. There's no easy solution: either you earn influence and use it to further your agenda (a la George Soros), or you try and build influence in some other way, such as publishing reasoned arguments in an easily shareable format, which is what the EFF is very good at. It's never been easier to have some impact.
    - prawn 11y ago
      There have been a number of web campaigns* initiated in Australia that have gained some traction. As you suggested, that's the best bet for the average person with technical skills and a way to get a concept to resonate with people. * This is one example: http://howfastisthenbn.com.au/ http://howfastisthenbn.com.au/
imron 11y ago
Unfortunately, this wasn't just Tony's fault. Labor backed the bill also. sigh why is it only the Greens and Independents who are willing to stand up for what's right.
- vacri 11y ago
  The greens aren't really interested in this issue; it just panders to their inner-city elite demographic. Also, I wouldn't clump the independents together - the PUP or the DLP aren't usually up for what's right.
  - prawn 11y ago
    Scott Ludlam is always genuinely interested in issues like this. Renai LeMay shut down Delimiter to join his staff, showing Ludlam values our sector IMO.
    - vacri 11y ago
      Ludlam is (I saw him panel at a sec conf once), but the Greens in general don't. It's not a very important plank to them - check out their site, and you can find it hidden away somewhere in one corner, behind everything else.
- Joakal 11y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_australia#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_austral... Look at the history, collectively, it got Labor/Liberal support from Federal and State governments as far back as 1995.
- Jedd 11y ago
  Conveniently there are no laws (currently) that compel people to support or vote only for either of the two big parties. A subtle point that seems to be lost on most of my fellow citizens. Mind, it seems to be a regrettably common misconception elsewhere in the world too.
Joakal 11y ago
"The Coalition has never supported mandatory internet filtering. Indeed, we have a long record of opposing it," the statement said. "The policy which was issued today was poorly worded and incorrectly indicated that the Coalition supported an 'opt-out' system of internet filtering for both mobile and fixed-line services. That is not our policy and never has been. "The correct position is that the Coalition will encourage mobile phone and internet service providers to make available software which parents can choose to install on their own devices to protect their children from inappropriate material." http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-05/no-internet-filter-says-turnbull/4939156 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-05/no-internet-filter-say... That's a second backflip. But I think it is a complete 360 turn.
- robbiep 11y ago
  ... So they're back where they started?

Yet again, and of course as usual, the government of Australia demonstrating how much they value their citizens by totally ignoring them in favour of big business. Good job Tony.

PebblesHD 11y ago

Also, of interest: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-go/porn-will-be-next-on-australias-websiteblocking-agenda-20150624-ghw60w.html http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/gadgets-on-the-... In moves surprising nobody, leaders and party figures have already suggested using these new laws as a stepping stone to blocking other objectionable content such as pornography and who knows what else.

crdb 11y ago

Whilst I agree with your sentiment as a legal permanent resident of Australia, I think it is dangerous (if very seductive) to blame Mr Abbott. He's been the party attack dog for so long that people focus their energy on making it personal with him (much as the Democrats focus on Bush and the Republicans have a thing for Obama). First, from the little I've been tracking this issue, it appears it was the "relatively moderate", friendly, centrist, old guard Turnbull that was behind these moves. Chances are it's done as a favour to someone in Washington who needed something from someone connected to the Hollywood lobbies. Not the strongest of motives and the kind of thing that popular opinion can reverse. Second, legislation doesn't magically happen in a vaccuum when the PM says so. Australians, you MUST get in touch with your local politician, both to let them know (politely) how you feel about certain issues, and to give them arguments to use in Canberra if you want any chance of legislation being passed the way you like it. It's not about Labour vs Liberals. Whoever has been locally elected, is now responsible for listening to you. They also don't do much thinking so it helps to do it for them: "This proposed legislation infringes individual rights like this, this and this; moreover, as per the Constitution, that" goes much further than "I am pissed at you for letting the PM get away with it". This is of course not a personal response to your comment, but a general note that I thought about and that was triggered by your Tony note. I've found Australians relatively politically disengaged, with the general opinion - at least in Sydney - basically being "they're all scumbags anyway, things will work out in the end", followed by some expletives about Gillard, Rudd or Abbott depending on where the Australian leans...

tacticus 11y ago
Turnbull is certainly not centrist nor friendly.
- programmernews3 11y ago
  Turnbull is a hoop snake in drop bear clothing.
PebblesHD 11y ago
A very good point, and well written. My only observation is this: politics doesn't happen in a vacuum, but the current government has set about ignoring polls and comments from the public on a range of other issues making me less inclined to believe they will shift for this one. That being said Labor isn't innocent of this either. My local member has on several occasions refused to even answer calls or meet me to discuss this, based only on the fact that as a young adult my opinion must not be valid.
- crdb 11y ago
  That's pragmatic, he/she made the calculation that you have little political weight. Chances are there are people who contributed to his/her campaign or who are members of the community with more pull, and that you and your family aren't part of that group, and current members of that group disagree with you on the topics you brought up to your member. Or maybe he just did the maths and decided that an hour's meeting would have a higher return on investment with someone else. There's no easy solution: either you earn influence and use it to further your agenda (a la George Soros), or you try and build influence in some other way, such as publishing reasoned arguments in an easily shareable format, which is what the EFF is very good at. It's never been easier to have some impact.
  - prawn 11y ago
    There have been a number of web campaigns* initiated in Australia that have gained some traction. As you suggested, that's the best bet for the average person with technical skills and a way to get a concept to resonate with people. * This is one example: http://howfastisthenbn.com.au/ http://howfastisthenbn.com.au/

imron 11y ago

Unfortunately, this wasn't just Tony's fault. Labor backed the bill also. sigh why is it only the Greens and Independents who are willing to stand up for what's right.

vacri 11y ago
The greens aren't really interested in this issue; it just panders to their inner-city elite demographic. Also, I wouldn't clump the independents together - the PUP or the DLP aren't usually up for what's right.
- prawn 11y ago
  Scott Ludlam is always genuinely interested in issues like this. Renai LeMay shut down Delimiter to join his staff, showing Ludlam values our sector IMO.
  - vacri 11y ago
    Ludlam is (I saw him panel at a sec conf once), but the Greens in general don't. It's not a very important plank to them - check out their site, and you can find it hidden away somewhere in one corner, behind everything else.
Joakal 11y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_australia#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_austral... Look at the history, collectively, it got Labor/Liberal support from Federal and State governments as far back as 1995.
Jedd 11y ago
Conveniently there are no laws (currently) that compel people to support or vote only for either of the two big parties. A subtle point that seems to be lost on most of my fellow citizens. Mind, it seems to be a regrettably common misconception elsewhere in the world too.

Joakal 11y ago

"The Coalition has never supported mandatory internet filtering. Indeed, we have a long record of opposing it," the statement said. "The policy which was issued today was poorly worded and incorrectly indicated that the Coalition supported an 'opt-out' system of internet filtering for both mobile and fixed-line services. That is not our policy and never has been. "The correct position is that the Coalition will encourage mobile phone and internet service providers to make available software which parents can choose to install on their own devices to protect their children from inappropriate material." http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-05/no-internet-filter-says-turnbull/4939156 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-05/no-internet-filter-say... That's a second backflip. But I think it is a complete 360 turn.

robbiep 11y ago
... So they're back where they started?