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Internet Villain of the Year Stephen Conroy Resigns

Posted by timothy on from the do-you-trust-his-network? dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Australian Communications Minister and [2009's] Internet Villain of the Year Stephen Conroy has resigned after his patron was booted out by her party. Conroy gained infamy through his repeated attempts to censor the internet and more recently silent web site blocking, web snooping and data retention. His national broadband network remains controversial."

39 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. One down by FriendlyLurker · · Score: 2

    A whole lot of other corrupt dishonest Aussie politicians to go... they have had their fair go at it, mate.

    1. Re:One down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful
      FTFA:

      What makes these revelations even more offensive are our elected representatives’ refusal to come clean. It is clear that the extent of Australian – United States cooperation on monitoring of citizens is not limited to special targets of high risk, identified and approved by lawful warrant to be intercepted and surveilled. No. It is all of us, all the time.

    2. Re:One down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yeah, right. Given Rupert Murdochs 70% control of the media, the only thing Australians will be giving is absolute power in both houses to the Liberals (Aussie right wing/neocon types) - not any third parties like the wikileaks party or greens... a country gets the goverment its dominant media channels tell it to get.

      BTW Australian mining companies keep around 60% and then some of the wealth they dig up - 40% for the Australian people. Complete opposite of Ecuador where 40% goes to the company for the privileged of mining public land... so no prizes for guessing know who owns the two Aussie mainstream political parties...

    3. Re:One down by Pav · · Score: 4, Funny

      Heheh... Made a while ago, but is surprisingly appropriate. (Gillard taken out, Murdoch, Wikileaks etc...) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xm0HNbvtgQ

    4. Re:One down by Elbereth · · Score: 1

      I still don't understand how Peter Garrett could turn into such a "team player" and moderate, after decades of activism. I guess it goes to show how much politicians have to sell out in order to make it to the top levels.

      Even as an American, I considered Garrett something of a hero when I was growing up. It was a shock to find out what's become of him today.

    5. Re:One down by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      We have a widespread activist party, the Greens. By all and sundry, they're tainted the 'loony left' and attract about 10% of the vote.

      Thus effectively, going mainstream forces once to sell out. But in Garrett's case he was an ineffective environment minister, sidelined as the climate change policy was given to an unknown and abandoned his views on US imperialism and uranium.

    6. Re:One down by dbIII · · Score: 1

      abandoned his views on US imperialism and uranium

      The reality is he was told to shut up on those issues entirely since it wasn't his job so we don't know if he abandoned his views or not. It shows what people have to do to be "part of the team".

    7. Re:One down by BrokenHalo · · Score: 1

      To be honest i think we need one party with absolute power in both houses. Maybe then we might be able to get something done.

      We had that with John Howard. He got lots done, and most of it was bad.

      There are three things the thinking person quickly learns about Australian politicians:
      If a labor politician says he's going to do something nice, he might be in deadly earnest, but he will never get the numbers to carry it through.
      If a Liberal politician says he's going to do something nice, he's lying.
      If a Liberal politician says he's going to do something nasty, you can bet he's deadly serious.

      Either way, we're fucked.

    8. Re:One down by Maso · · Score: 2

      The greens are in favour of r18.

      "When it came to reforming our classification system, only the Greens declared unequivocal support for the introduction of an R18+ rating for games.

      “It is bizarre that Australia is one of the only countries in the Western world without an adult classification for games,” says Scott Ludlam, Greens Senator for Western Australia. “We believe that a change to the classification system should occur in the next term in parliament.”"

      Tell me more of these wacky policies

    9. Re:One down by Dishevel · · Score: 1

      Yup.
      Remember though.
      It is not Just American or Just Australian political representatives that need to go.
      France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Russia, Mexico, England, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, China, and Many MANY more.

      Almost all of them are bad.
      And none of them will be good after you leave them steeping in politics for more than a few years.

      --
      Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
    10. Re:One down by Bremic · · Score: 1

      A lot of this confusion is caused by Murdoch's Blog... I mean the mainstream media in Australia... saying the Greens are doing one thing, while the Greens are in fact doing something else.

    11. Re:One down by Bremic · · Score: 1

      It all depends on your perspective.

      If you are an Australian citizen who doesn't appear in the list of 100 most wealthy, or an elected official in the LNP, you are correct.
      If you are in one of those minorities, you have it backwards.

      The LNP is being completely honest when it says it wants to support minorities. These are the minorities it is talking about.

    12. Re:One down by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      In late-breaking news, Garrett resigned from parliament today.

      Conroy will still be there on the backbench, just not as communications minister.

    13. Re:One down by Elbereth · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I saw. Surprising. Even more surprising, he seems quite proud of his accomplishments and fiercely loyal to Gillard/Labor. I don't know what to say. I guess it's easy to criticize from the outside, and minor incremental advances are better than regression... but who can help but be disappointed?

  2. "controversial" broadband plan? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    His broadband plan only remains controversial to those who think that a broadband plan based on tin cans and string is a viable alternative.

    1. Re:"controversial" broadband plan? by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      For many the current infrastructure is adequate (e.g. 3 of my 4 aunts don't have the internet). Trying to explain to them that the reason after a storm that the phone becomes crackly or to others why their ADSL drops out because the copper wiring needs replacing at the cost of $1b/year goes over their heads.

      Then there's 40% of the population who have always voted for the coalition... The NBN ain't a vote changer to most swinging voters.

    2. Re:"controversial" broadband plan? by Chuq · · Score: 1

      You're talking about the coalition plan, which was wireless, then cable, now FTTN?

      The ALP plan has been the same since 2009 when it was announced. 93% FTTH, 7% wireless/sat.

      Prior to that, yes, there were discussions about broadband and requests for proposals, none of which got up.

      --
      - Chuq
    3. Re:"controversial" broadband plan? by BrokenHalo · · Score: 1

      ...or to others why their ADSL drops out because the copper wiring needs replacing at the cost of $1b/year goes over their heads.

      If they've got copper, they aren't doing too badly. I only live 1/2 an hour's drive from what passes for a large town in Tasmania, and there's absolutely no possibility of copper to my home, let alone fibre.

      The NBN ain't a vote changer to most swinging voters.

      Swinging voters should be disqualified from voting.

    4. Re:"controversial" broadband plan? by Macgrrl · · Score: 1

      Do you have a landline? 'Cause that's the infrastructure they plan on using for copper to the home.

      As a childless woman who works in IT, is a heavy user of the internet and has a partner with chronic health issues, there's a lot for me to worry about if (when) Abbott get's into the lodge.

      Descoping of the NBN, 456 Visa's putting my job at risk, increased taxes to pay for other people's childcare. So much to look forward to.

      --
      Sara
      Designer, Gamer, Macgrrl in an XP World
    5. Re:"controversial" broadband plan? by BrokenHalo · · Score: 1

      Do you have a landline? 'Cause that's the infrastructure they plan on using for copper to the home.

      Nope. I said no possibility of copper, and that's what I've got. So I pay over the odds for a substandard so-called NextG service, which when it is working, is just marginally better than dialup. And like you, I see no likelihood of any improvement with a change of government.

    6. Re:"controversial" broadband plan? by bebilith · · Score: 1

      To bloody right!

      $25B for FTTN which will be limited to 25Mb/s by that ancient, expensive to maintain, copper. When Netflix (30% of US evening internet traffic) expects to be streaming 34Mb/s hidef video by 2014. How is that making good use of the spending and enabling Australia for the future?

      Better to spend the $50B ($70B..whatever) up front on FTTH now and be good for the next 50 years.
      --
      B

    7. Re:"controversial" broadband plan? by Chuq · · Score: 1

      If you know more I'd be very interested to hear what you have to say. AFAIK the Government directive was for 90% or more to be FTTH, and they were able to extend that to 93%.

      It hasn't been stated officially, but assuming the NBN is completed in its current format, I would bet that post completion the FTTH footprint would continue to grow; in the same way that when bitumen roads first became commonplace, there were some areas that remained gravel or dirt, but over the years many of these roads have become sealed.

      I'm sure that the wireless/sat percentages will vary, given that some councils and residents are protesting the wireless tower locations, and the government wants to get it all done by 2015. I assume that if they can't get a fixed wireless solution for an area, those households will get satellite?

      --
      - Chuq
    8. Re:"controversial" broadband plan? by bebilith · · Score: 1

      Hahah. Really? You are comparing 30 metres of cable manufactured to Cat 5e standards in a clean dry environment to kilometres of twisted pair wires buried in the ground 30 years ago with multiple connections where it's just twisted together sitting in pits full of water with plastic bags as moisture protection?

      You are either a troll or ignorant. I'll leave the world to judge.
      --
      B

  3. NBN controversial? by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Smell the flamebait.

    The Uncle-Rupert article you linked to mentions an absurd claim high speed internet is a major health risk because of disturbing asbestos-laden pits in the process of replacing copper with fibre.

    Quite rightly Conroy called it out as ridiculous. These same pits would need to be accessed in laying fibre-to-the-node.

    1. Re:NBN controversial? by TranquilVoid · · Score: 1

      If the editors added the 'controversial' line then it's a poor reflection on them. At best it is mildly controversial.

      It's riotously controversial if you are a writer for News Limited, though. I have not seen a single positive article about it in their broadsheet, The Australian, over the past few years. As Murdoch also owns Foxtel cable, which is likely to be eaten by an NBN, conspiracy theorists could be forgiven for suggesting editorial independence has been compromised.

    2. Re:NBN controversial? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      These same pits would need to be accessed in laying fibre-to-the-node.

      I would be more happy if the public were educated to the great asbestos risk that this really is. The fact that some random people think their health was adversely affected because someone broke a bonded piece of non-friable asbestos on the other side of the world speaks volumes for how intelligent the general public really is.

      The sad thing is, the stupidity of the people is the reason why Conrvoy 2.0 or whoever his successor will be is going to be just as corrupt as his predecessor.

  4. Does he have an undeserved Nobel Peace Prize? by lxs · · Score: 1

    If not, the Internet villain of 2013 is still in the lead for Evilest Internet Villain of the century.

  5. Never figured that one out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The biggest authoritarian nutjobs in Australian politics hail from the Catholic Right. They've historically dominated the Labor Party, although they can also be found in the conservative parties too (Tony Abbott was one of "Santa's little helpers" before he joined the Liberal Party).

    I never really figured out how the Catholic Right in Australia got to be so illiberal, and how they got away with the stuff they've done in the past, and continue to do so.

    And they crop up in all sorts of interesting places. You can imagine my surprise when I worked for a supermarket, and volunteered to help out with the union. That is, until I discovered that the SDA are actually a bunch of hard-Right book burning Nazis.

    That said, I will not shed a single tear for Stephen Conroy.

  6. Don't worry... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2

    Conroy will probably be back soon as a highly-paid lobbyist, working for corporations and governments who will benefit from a locked-down internet.

    Shitstains take care of their own.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  7. On a serious note, all I have to say is ... by skegg · · Score: 1

    Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy !!!

    Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!

    Wooooooooooooooooooot !!!

    Now I'm doing a one-man conga dance, with imaginary maracas.

  8. Julia Gillard Looks Like Jodie Foster by snookerdoodle · · Score: 1

    Ok, Off-Topic, and I feel awful for that.

    Julia Gillard looks a lot like Jodie Foster in the picture on her Wikipedia page, IMHO.

    That really is all I had to say.

    1. Re:Julia Gillard Looks Like Jodie Foster by Macgrrl · · Score: 1

      It's been frankly embarrassing how the local media has treated Gillard (to the point of asking if her defacto partner was gay on a public radio broadcast, implying she was merely his beard.

      I can only hope that by the time we get our next female Prime Minister the rest of the pollies or mass media can find it in themselves to treat the position with respect even if they are still a bunch of misogynistic pricks.

      --
      Sara
      Designer, Gamer, Macgrrl in an XP World
    2. Re:Julia Gillard Looks Like Jodie Foster by TranquilVoid · · Score: 1

      It's not fair to point to a single shock-jock whose question wasn't tolerated by the public whatsoever.

      Also, Gillard did her best to make gender politics an issue, continually trying to paint Abbot as a misogynist. Witness her 'dressing down' speech and her recent left-field attempt to spark an abortion debate in a feminist context.

    3. Re:Julia Gillard Looks Like Jodie Foster by fido_dogstoyevsky · · Score: 1

      It's been frankly embarrassing how the local media has treated Gillard (to the point of asking if her defacto partner was gay on a public radio broadcast, implying she was merely his beard.

      I can only hope that by the time we get our next female Prime Minister the rest of the pollies or mass media can find it in themselves to treat the position with respect even if they are still a bunch of misogynistic pricks.

      It was far more embarrassing seeing the PM on national TV baying for the blood of an Australian journalist who had dared to embarras the US (one J Assange).

      The position has lacked any respectability since howard's day.

      --
      It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
    4. Re:Julia Gillard Looks Like Jodie Foster by Macgrrl · · Score: 1

      While the beard question may have been the most egregious offence, it was by no means the only one during her 3 years at the helm. Look at Allan Jones, Tony Abbott and Germaine Greer and their ilk for other examples.

      --
      Sara
      Designer, Gamer, Macgrrl in an XP World
    5. Re:Julia Gillard Looks Like Jodie Foster by TranquilVoid · · Score: 1

      They cop different abuse (which is really the definition of sexism!) For example a male politician is more likely to be called out on their physical appearance (like being overweight, or your examples). Female politicians are more likely to be belittled or disregarded.

  9. idiot is the word by Stonefish · · Score: 1

    Stephen Conroy is an embarrassing idiot and as an Australian can hold my head a little bit higher as a result. Luckily his ineptitude protected the Australian public from his role a media industry stooge. His strategy in relation to the internet was as follows, get a magic filter in place under the guise of "protecting against bad stuff" and then block and stop people from downloading media content. In return provide me with a bit of positive spin in the traditional media space.
    Unfortunately (for him) he misjudged this Internet thing which unfortunately didn't have a point of ownership.
    Also as the minister for the Australian Broadband Network he has managed to completely cock this thing up so that the rollout is already far behind schedule, great idea appalling execution. It's a bit like expecting your florist to be able to sideline as a bridge engineer, a bit funny on the surface but underneath deeply tragic for all involved.

  10. Re:The enemy we know was better by Macgrrl · · Score: 1

    Sadly, the voters who will decide the next election are largely aspirational voters with a poor understanding of the impacts of FTTH vs FTTN. Many of them are rents who annually spend more on their cars than on their housing.

    That and the xenophobia the conservatives have whipped up regarding the 457 visa and asylum seekers sometimes makes me ashamed to be Australian - a country which has been founded on immigration from all corners of the globe.

    --
    Sara
    Designer, Gamer, Macgrrl in an XP World
  11. There IS no controversy by Crypto+Gnome · · Score: 1

    The simple fact is that some people STILL believe The Earth Is Flat. Just like some people believe that a Fibre-to-the-home National Broadband Network is A Bad Thing.

    Sure it's a huge bucket of money.
    Sure there needs to be oversight, to ensure the money is well spent not just pork-barrelled.
    Sure, you *could* achieve some (but only a little) of that by being (slightly) cheaper.

    The bottom line is that the VAST overwhelming MAJORITY of backlash against the NBN has been spearheaded by The Opposition - People who (as in America) OPPOSE things for no reason other than it was somebody elses idea, therefore Ahm Agin' it!

    --
    Visit CryptoGnome in his home.