[xasop]

Main article: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australias-new-security-laws-explained-20140926-10mh6d.html

This has been all over the news here lately. In short, our government is about to pass laws granting special immunity to agents working on loosely-defined "special intelligence operations", stricter penalties for anyone reporting information about said missions, and virtually unlimited power to access computer systems. In the name of fighting terrorism, of course.

This change has come about rather suddenly, after alleged terrorist plots in Sydney. I can't say I'm too happy with the reaction of Parliament, but this has been supported by both of our major parties, which in practice means an almost unanimous vote. I suppose the one good thing that might come of this is that people might stop voting the same idiots in every few years, but I don't hold out too much hope of that.

This whole thing is sickening to me. According to that article, there is more legislation on the way, which would enable the government to require me to prove that I'm not a terrorist if I decide to take a trip to Syria. There is a fairly substantial Arab population in Australia, many of whom no doubt have family in Syria. Now they may have to conjure up proof (if anyone wants to tell me how the fuck they're supposed to do that, please go right ahead) that they aren't engaging in terrorism every time they visit their families.

As far as I'm concerned, any party which supports these bills is never getting another vote from me.

[Ghost of V]

This sounds just like the Patriot Act.

[Particle Person]

Yeah, that sounds very familiar.

[xasop]

This sounds just like the Patriot Act.

Yeah, that sounds very familiar.

I had the same thought. The PATRIOT Act is one of the reasons I avoid the USA. If this doesn't get nipped in the bud, I may end up leaving Australia as well.

[Vindictus]

Yeah, most Australians I know on the internet are pretty upset about this, but it's not surprising coming from the LNP. It passed the senate friday night with only the Greens and I think a liberal democrat voting against it. It will almost certainly pass the house of reps on tuesday.

From what I understand, if you're serious about privacy you need to use a VPN now. I'd write to my member but she's proven herself a total airhead in the past so I don't see a point.

The only place I've seen concern for this is the internet. Don't count on the public giving a single shit, everyone I've seen in public (including friends and people my age) think it's a good thing that will help fight terrorism, which remains to be seen.

[Particle Person]

Did some specific event prompt this legislature?

[Vindictus]

If I had to point at a catalyst it would be the one Parsifal mentioned, there was a recent event in Sydney which resulted in the AFP arresting a bunch of fundamentalists who were talking about beheading a random Australian. So it seems the AFP are already listening to phone lines if they want.

The LNP are luddites through and through, in the past they have demonstrated their disdain and lack of knowledge in regards to the internet (dismantling the NBN for political points, metadata retention, anti-piracy legislation talks, etc). With the rising presence of ISIS in the Australian media, especially home grown terrorism (which, in part, is due to their own rhetoric), they have decided to expand the powers of ASIO and the AFP in the name of catching terrorists.

[Rushy]

Why are you trying to escape anti-terrorism laws? Anti-terrorism laws are only for terrorists. You must be one.

[model 29]

Listening in on everyone and everything because it's for your own good.

Random checkpoints "papers please"-currently known as 'sobriety checkpoints' here in the US (not sure about AU) for now... because it's for your own good,

Disarming of the population (made easier through indoctrination of the public, "guns are bad")... because it's for your own good.

etc etc

[Vindictus]

Why are you trying to escape anti-terrorism laws? Anti-terrorism laws are only for terrorists. You must be one.

Is.. is that you, George Brandis?

Disarming of the population (made easier through indoctrination of the public, "guns are bad")... because it's for your own good.

Disarmament happened 10 years ago for us

[model 29]

"If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear."
-Joseph Goebbels

[Rushy]

If you're worried about someone watching you, you're doing something you're not supposed to be doing.

[xasop]

From what I understand, if you're serious about privacy you need to use a VPN now.

I may set up a VPS in Japan to do that. If I do end up doing that, anyone on FES who'd like a free VPN is welcome to use it.

I'd write to my member but she's proven herself a total airhead in the past so I don't see a point.

I might do that. My electorate has been a safe Liberal seat since it was established in 1949, though, so I can't imagine her caring very much.

The only place I've seen concern for this is the internet. Don't count on the public giving a single shit, everyone I've seen in public (including friends and people my age) think it's a good thing that will help fight terrorism, which remains to be seen.

Most people I've talked to feel the same way I do, but that's pretty much entirely people at work, who are also Linux geeks.

[model 29]

Of course, lulz such as this happened when someone quoted Joseph Goebbels to an anti-gunner on twitter, to which she said those were wise words to live by. 

[Vindictus]

Basically the gist of it. The first point is a bit off base with the actual legislation, probably written in such a way for the average person to relate the changes.

[xasop]

Upon reflection, this might just have gotten me angry enough to finally join the Sex Party. I agree with every one of their 10 primary policies listed on their Policies page (though I'm not sure I'm in agreement with all of their policies listed on sub-pages, but all those I might disagree with are worded vaguely enough that I don't know), and they oppose this new legislation.

I want to consider this some more first. I don't actually know what's involved in membership in a political party, so I will research that before making a decision.

[Saddam Hussein]

I like the way model 29 is apparently trying to make this thread about guns.

[Lord Dave]

I like the way model 29 is apparently trying to make this thread about guns.

It's the American way.

[Ghost Spaghetti]

Nice to see my political equivalents in Aus are fighting this.

[model 29]

Just throwing the examples out there.

Who here loves the concepts of RFID implants and GPS monitoring of vehicles too?