ACT Says no to Terror Laws

If you’re expecting public outrage to keep the system in check, you need to remember that reporting on people held under these laws is going to be punishable by five years in the pokey.

As will telling anyone you’re being held

Worth bearing in mind that many (not all) police would dearly love to see an end to trials and judges as they “already know who the bad guys are”.

What about Montgomery Burns, the Attorney-General 😉

Wow, I think my electoral rorting statement was badder than the communist one.

I’m in the shit.

I’ve previously just thought it was old people and South Australians who voted Liberal, now I’m finding out that there is this whole closet economy of people who disagree with him but vote for him anyway.

I for the records think that Stott-Despoya should take over the Democrats again, that would get my vote, if only cause she’s a sexy blonde chick, and we need more of that in parliament.

I hear on the grapevine that Julia Gillard has dolled herself up a bit too, rumour being that a challenge for the top seat might be imminent to coincide with Kym Beasleys unpopularity at the moment.

She’d keep the votes, but she’s gotta stop doing the friendly-friendly interviews with Tony Abbot, he’s a nutjob.

Other than that, there’s scant all worth voting for up at parliament house, in looks or charisma.

Bonfire, I don’t think the posting of the confidential draft terror laws was stupid.

Howard was trying to sneak through important and far-reaching legislation without giving anyone a real opportunity to have their say and raise any concerns they might have, and I think Stanhope was acting in the public interest.

But fair enough if you don’t agree.

I don’t personally think Stanhope has dealt himself out of the game: in my view, Howard is being petty and punishing the guy for not going along with the government’s agenda by excluding him from the phone hook-up.

However, I agree with what you say though about thinking for yourself and coming to your own conclusions about issues. We shouldn’t just accept what the media has to say, especially since on the whole they are so unquestioning about important things.

BTW, while the sedition laws haven’t been used for a while, there have been 2 notable prosecutions.

Secretary of the Australian Communist Party Lawrence Sharkey was jailed for sedition in 1949, for saying publicly that if “Soviet troops came to Australia in search of an aggressor, they would be welcomed by the Australian working class” (quoted from an Aust. War Memorial article by Peter Edwards).

And according to the Green Left Weekly newspaper, “the last prosecution under the sedition laws was in 1960, when Australian Department of Native Affairs officer Brian Cooper was prosecuted for urging “the natives” of Papua New Guinea to demand independence from Australia. He was convicted, and committed suicide after losing his appeal.”

So for my money, it’s not inconceivable that statements which are unpalatable to the government could land the speaker or publisher in hot water.

maelinar, voting for john howard is like admitting you masturbate.

noone admits to it, but everyone does it.

enough anyway to get him returned several times.

because he isnt your choice doesnt mean that a fraud has occurred. i think the aec is apolitical. it would have alerted us to this massive fraud by now.

and to stop you regarding me as a liberal stooge, ill state this for the record: i have not voted for howard or for carnell.

i didnt vote for stanhope either!

sadly i think majority govt in the assembly has robbed us of real opposition. cross and dundas made worthwhile contributions, dundas in particular as far as an independent could.

the greens are so far to the left that they offer no real opposition at all. politics is pragmatism.

IN REAL LIFE.

Well said Bonfire

And Mael, I am proud to say I vote Liberal, and I can find you a hundred others off the top of my head

at least carnell got things done.

point to stanhopes achievements.

his petulant posting of confidential draft legislation was stupid on so many levels.

as a person who elects representatives, how do i feel that my representative has dealt himself out of the game through his own actions ?

effectively all act residents have nil say in the new legislation.

onya jon.

as to all the handwringing on artists etc being locked up, just look at the exisiting provisions of the crimes act. sedition already exists. when was the last time it was used ?

if the bulk of the softheads who bitch, moan and rant about things conducted some basic research instead of parroting whjatever idea funnel is pointed in their direction, they might find they are being used as useful fools in someone elses agenda.

when you are presented with an idea or policy or proposal you dont like, or know little about – stop.

listen, analyse, develop, communicate.

listen to the proposal. what is it that you are being told ?

analyse it – research it, what does it mean ? look for information – read legislation, use google or comlaw.

Develop your own sense of how the issue impacts upon you, and society. try and not be influenced by the media or powerful harpie like mouthpieces. develop pro and con positions and look for merit in each until you come to a position that is truly yours and not a meme.

Communicate your fresh idea or take in a constructive fashion.

i think stanhope fails several of these basic steps.

if they bring in retrospective penalties, will Jon Stanhope become a criminal by encouraging disaffection with the current commonwealth government by publishing the documentation publicly which has stirred up so much disaffection with the public cause they all think the government is shit ?

Here’s a radical thought (for which I’m going to become a criminal for), In my travels across Australia I’ve yet to actually meet IN REAL LIFE, somebody who ACTUALLY VOTED for the Liberals. This is in 7 years.

I think there has been some vote rigging of an extremely large scale for a very long time. That’s what’s keeping JH in government, not all these scheming tactics (which are a double-smokescreen for his real activities which is vote rigging)

I say Good job mr Stanhope…… you are doing are far better than your predecessor pumpkinhead carnell