7 August 2012

You can film rangers, and they can ask you not to

| johnboy
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zed signage

We were somewhat intrigued by the Canberra Times piece on the Liberals getting pinged yet again for illegal signage.

Back in 2008 we took a long hard look at the Liberal’s complete inability to have any respect for the law. So this was no surprise. (Albeit strange for a party incessantly banging on about getting tougher on offenders who are not themselves)

But the run in with the ranger had this bit of strangeness:

Liberals candidate for Ginninderra Jacob Vadakkedathu last night confirmed he had been approached by the ranger and one of his volunteers had attempted to film the officer until he presented his identification.

A Territory and Municipal Services spokesman said the ranger ”felt uncomfortable” that a mobile phone was being used to film the conversation and asked the volunteer to switch it off.

Now for those who are curious we have asked TAMS what the go is with filming their rangers and got this response:

There is no legislative mechanism for a ranger to compel someone to stop filming them.

However a ranger, like any other person in a public place, has the right to request that they are not filmed.

And you have the right to keep on filming them.

[Pictured in 2008, Liberal signage a good 70 metres inside the exclusion zone of the polling place in the background]

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Damn. I thought this was going to be a story about Ned Kelly, Ben Hall or at least Chuck Norris and some guys from Texas.

grunge_hippy said :

There are still stickers from the last election for some female liberal candidate (who’s name escapes me momentarily, must have pushed it that far down into my subconscious) that are still prolific on the back of street signs all around Tuggeranong. I wonder if that gets done for some sort of littering/illegal signage?

Yes – for starters, signs may only be placed for 8 weeks:
http://www.elections.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/7952/Movable_signs_in_public_places_factsheet.pdf

For anybody wanting to test the theory, the phrasing is roughly:

A citizen’s right to document government officers and officials, including law enforcement officers of all varieties, either in the discharge of their duties or in the execution of their delegated powers, but especially as it occurs in a public space, is a well-established and fundamental element of modern democratic dialogue when performing critical assessments of our system of responsible government in Australia.
Assembling a record of such affairs not only allows the public opportunities to defend public officials from introduction of a false record into any proceedings, but also allows further public review and analysis of incidents should such a record be required.

As such, members of the public or persons acting in the public interest have a right to record the actions and processes of government officials in a format that may readily be disseminated to others, as it serves the interest of relevant parties in that it defines their roles, documents their engagements and participation with those same parties, and that the subsequent transmission of this document to others assists in furthering the political education of others about available methods of interaction with officials in both governmental and public affairs.

For further clarification of this topic, please consult with your legal support section on the significance of Australian Capital Television v Commonwealth (1992), specifically Paragraphs 38 and 39 by High Court Chief Justice Sir Anthony Frank Mason in this decision, before even trying to touch this camera again, officer.

grunge_hippy8:26 pm 07 Aug 12

There are still stickers from the last election for some female liberal candidate (who’s name escapes me momentarily, must have pushed it that far down into my subconscious) that are still prolific on the back of street signs all around Tuggeranong. I wonder if that gets done for some sort of littering/illegal signage?

Richard Bender8:08 pm 07 Aug 12

“However a ranger, like any other person in a public place, has the right to request that they are not filmed.”

Except a ranger isn’t like any other person in a public place. In this circumstance, the ranger was acting as a public official enforcing local laws. While they shouldn’t be subject to undue harassment, they should not be afraid of having their actions subject to scrutiny. It’s called accountability.

There is one down south where I turned off to go to Angle crossing the other day of Val Jeffery that has a cock and balls on his cheek.

Vaaaaalllllll JJJJJJeeeeeefffffrrrrreeeeyyyy that hayseed from down south in Thaaarwwwwaaa.

Rangers, employed by local Gov, are in an invideous position.They are required to come to decisions regarding the placement of signs without the crystal ball of knowing the winner of the next election.

I would be amazed if all the (current) opposition parties advertising material was in the wrong place, but all of local Labor Party was perfectly located.

On first look I thought it said “rangas” oh well.

qbngeek said :

Actually, I should add, if someone finds a sign within a prescribed area, take a photo of it and send it in to RiotACT.

Then we can all rag out on the guilty party.

Or equally, draw a mo and sidies on whomever it is and then send it in. Could be funny to see who is the most creative. 🙂

There is one down south where I turned off to go to Angle crossing the other day of Val Jeffery that has a cock and balls on his cheek.

I saw one of the Val Jeffery ones the other day, the thing that got me about them was the fact he’s smiling, I’ve never seen him smile and I’ve known him many years

qbngeek said :

Actually, I should add, if someone finds a sign within a prescribed area, take a photo of it and send it in to RiotACT.

Then we can all rag out on the guilty party.

Or equally, draw a mo and sidies on whomever it is and then send it in. Could be funny to see who is the most creative. 🙂

There is one down south where I turned off to go to Angle crossing the other day of Val Jeffery that has a cock and balls on his cheek.

But that’s the official advertising isn’t it?

m@ said :

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

On reading the title I thought this thread would be about taking video footage of redheads. How disappointing.

You can film rangas… but why would anybody want to?!

Because they are cute.

Actually, I should add, if someone finds a sign within a prescribed area, take a photo of it and send it in to RiotACT.

Then we can all rag out on the guilty party.

Or equally, draw a mo and sidies on whomever it is and then send it in. Could be funny to see who is the most creative. 🙂

There is one down south where I turned off to go to Angle crossing the other day of Val Jeffery that has a cock and balls on his cheek.

Frankly I’d ban all advertising. I’m almost to the point of punching the next candidate who tries to shove a pamphlet in my face at a shopping centre. If I am interested I’ll come over, but since I’m not, leave me alone.

Agreed. Save the money on advertising and donate it to a worthwhile charity.

Holden Caulfield3:44 pm 07 Aug 12

A bit like the knob working on a shop fitout next to Pizza Gusto in Braddon on Sunday, who demanded, “You can’t park there!” when I parked in front of the store.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because I have trucks coming,” he replied.

There was a space nearby so it wasn’t much of a hassle to move. Given there was no signage to indicate I could not park there I thought it may have been a nicer approach to politely request that I didn’t park in front of his precious shop, rather than issue a flat out demand.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

On reading the title I thought this thread would be about taking video footage of redheads. How disappointing.

You can film rangas… but why would anybody want to?!

Madam Cholet1:29 pm 07 Aug 12

The Libs are a bloody joke in this town. A bunch of school kids who can’t seem to work out why they keep getting pulled up after the school swot squeals on them. I’m normally of the more Liberal persuasion in my voting habits, but honestly, I am really seriously considering whether these clowns should be allowed to be around in opposition let alone actually governing.

I was at my local shopping centre last week and they were there – no organisation, just milling around the doors ignoring anyone who went past. Has someone told them that the signs are not a substitute for engaging with people?

I’m not sure it’s as clear-cut as it seems. Whilst I’m sure there are obvious breaches, my own dealings with ACT officers has been mixed.

For example, Liquor Licensing were once inspecting a venue and demanded stickers be taken off the wall. They were asked what part of the regs required no stickers, and they said it was about overall ambience. Needless to say, that officer was acting without any authority to do so, and it took a bolshie conversation to make that officer back down.

I’d also note the government is passing its internal public sector issues to the ACT Labor Secretary to manage within the public domain… I haven’t seen that before, and for me it negates the perception of rangers being impartial.

I’m just saying there needs to be accountability on all sides.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd1:21 pm 07 Aug 12

I live in Macgregor said :

[Pictured in 2008, Liberal signage a good 70 metres inside the inclusion zone of the polling place in the background]

The Seselja Liberals take their cue from their glorious leader and his staff. It might be time for some clear instructions from the top to the newer (less experienced) candidates that it is not OK to swarm all over a shopping centre and cover every post and wall with their materials. It’s also not OK to stick video cameras or phones in the faces of public servants who are just doing their job, reminding candidates once again about the rules they should be following.

Yes, I am an ACT Labor member.

Yes and the ALP did exactly the same last time around. And will do the same this time as well. As will the Greens and everyone else.

No, I am not a liberal party member. They are a bunch of muppets.

Frankly I’d ban all advertising. I’m almost to the point of punching the next candidate who tries to shove a pamphlet in my face at a shopping centre. If I am interested I’ll come over, but since I’m not, leave me alone.

yep. ban all advertising like this. it makes the place look gross. The idiots have almiost completwly covered the pole down at cooleman court.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back12:50 pm 07 Aug 12

On reading the title I thought this thread would be about taking video footage of redheads. How disappointing.

Yes and the ALP did exactly the same last time around. And will do the same this time as well. As will the Greens and everyone else.

……..and at the same time they used taxpayers money to install large signs along the then single lane Tharwa Drive going down to Lanyon Valley. These signs advertised the fact that duplication works would start in “November 2008”, just one month after the election.

I can’t remember exactly but works didn’t start until well into 2009. Blatant taxpayer funded political advertising in my view, and a lie to go with it!!!!

waste of time enforcing this stuff

Sounds like attempted intimidation to me.

Pretty much what you would expect from the worthless slugs who get jobs as “staffers”.

I live in Macgregor11:57 am 07 Aug 12

[Pictured in 2008, Liberal signage a good 70 metres inside the inclusion zone of the polling place in the background]

The Seselja Liberals take their cue from their glorious leader and his staff. It might be time for some clear instructions from the top to the newer (less experienced) candidates that it is not OK to swarm all over a shopping centre and cover every post and wall with their materials. It’s also not OK to stick video cameras or phones in the faces of public servants who are just doing their job, reminding candidates once again about the rules they should be following.

Yes, I am an ACT Labor member.

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