Australia Plans More Spying on Citizens

sg_oneill writes "The Australian Electronic Frontiers foundation report that the Australian Government is looking at introducing changes to the Telecomunications Interception Act giving Government Agencies (NOT just police!) the power to intercept email, voice mail and SMS messages without a warrant. Considering the concurrent proposals to introduce legislation to allow banning of organisations suspected of terrorist links, am I the only one suspecting Australia is about to have a whole lot less political parties?" I think our most recent Australia spying story was about the Australian government spying to win elections.

Comments

The grimmest comment about government

[alizard]

"People usually get the local government they deserve." E.E."Doc" Smith

We may get to see for the first time in an English-speaking country the first example of the domino effect claimed by the US National Rifle Association... where banning the private possession of firearms inevitably leads to control of political speech and association ending in totalitarian democracy.

You can't have legitimate political campaigns where elected government officials are using electronic surveillance not only against known terrorists and criminals, but against political opponents as well. That's why the Watergate scandal ended President Nixon's political career, because his people got caught doing exactly that.

If this disturbing Australian trend goes to completion, how long before media outside AU realize that Australia is no longer a "free country"? Probably after we get significant numbers of people applying for "political asylum" in the US.

The only suggestions I have for Aussies if this doesn't get stopped, and if it's gotten this far, your elected officials probably no longer care what you think are:

1. You may already have seen the very last free election in Australia in your lifetime.

2. If you are serious about freedom, your options are:
think of a way to fight the new regime (isn't it too bad you gave up your guns?)
or
leave.

I recommend departure. If you live among a people willing to vote away their freedoms even when there is no obvious threat, I can't see any good reason to risk death and imprisonment for them. The people who tend to do best during a migration are those who get out first, they have the best chance to find jobs and housing before the hordes of refugees show up behind them.

For those who would neither fight nor depart, don't worry. I'm sure your regime will continue to call itself a democracy and even allow the facade of "free elections" for a while. Of course, your choice will only be among the parties the government allows to continue. And the forms of free enterprise that the government approves of.

I wish you Aussies luck. You'll need it.

No, I'm not offering the US as an example of perfect democracy, though we've had stolen Presidential elections in the past and 0wN3d legislatures and our democracy has survived. As to whether it will continue to do so, I certainly don't know.

I'm not xenophobic!

[aquarian]

I'm not xenophobic! I'm just sick of all these bloody wogs!

Not that bad...?

[POds]

I dont see this as anything bad. Sure people could be reading my email, and personal messages, and deep down, i prolly dont like that, but as long as the information isnt made public and is helping either catch people before commiting some sort of crime, then im all for it.

The more bogans they catch the better!

However, i can see why others dont like it, but tough titties i guess :)