Archive for January, 2010

Media Release: 22nd January 2010: ACT Democrats join Great Australian Internet Blackout.

22/01/2010

DARREN CHURCHILL

ACT Democrats President

Media Release: 22nd January 2010:

ACT Democrats join Great Australian Internet Blackout.

The ACT Democrats call on Canberrans to join them in the Great Australian Internet Blackout from the 25th to the 29th January (including Australia Day) as part of a unified protest against the Government’s plan to censor the Internet.

ACT Democrats president, Darren Churchill said: “We will be blacking out our websites and social networking profile pictures as part of the protest to draw attention to our opposition to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s plan for a mandatory Internet filer. We ask all Canberrans who oppose mandatory Internet censorship to join us in this campaign.

The Great Australian Internet Blackout is part of an online and offline demonstration allowing all online users to blackout either their websites or social networking profiles from the 25th to the 29th January, or participate in events to be held on Australia Day.

National President of the Australian Democrats, Julia Melland, recently described the proposed mandatory filter as “a tool for tyranny” and said, “we must not allow the technology to be put in place and be potentially misused by this or any other Government.”

Mr Churchill continued; “Censorship is evil and is totally abhorrent to anybody who believes in basic freedoms. It is far too easy for censorship to become a tool of control by totalitarian governments. Once the technology is in place it will be extremely hard to get rid of it.”

”We know that Kate Lundy, for all her talk of opposing Conroy’s plan, will not cross the floor to vote it down when it is presented to the parliament next month. Nor will anyone else in the ALP government. They’re not allowed to!”

“But the ACT Democrats and I will continue to oppose this threat to our freedoms. Only individuals, especially parents and schools should have the right to determine for themselves and their families and students what is acceptable. Governments should not determine it.

“Mandatory censorship is the first step in totalitarianism. It will lead us to restricting all sorts of information. Governments which may seem okay, change when they sense an ability to gain greater power and control. This is the road that leads to total control and “Big Brother” regimes like China, Soviet Russia, Burma or Iran” continued Mr Churchill.

We ask all Canberrans to join us in sending a message to Mr Conroy. We don’t want this restriction on our Internet freedom! We will act now in this protest. And if our candidates are elected at this year’s federal election, we will act in parliament too!” Mr Churchill concluded.

Darren Churchill

President, Australian Democrats (ACT Division)

darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

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Media Release: 20th January 2010: Canberrans must have a guarantee that South Australian Movie Laws won’t be copied by ACT Assembly, say Democrats.

19/01/2010

DARREN CHURCHILL

ACT Democrats President

Media Release: 20th January 2010:

Canberrans must have a guarantee that South Australian Movie Laws won’t be copied by ACT Assembly, say Democrats.

ACT Democrats President, Darren Churchill has called on ACT political leaders to confirm that South Australia’s “plain packaging” laws for R-rated movies will not be mirrored here in the ACT

Recent news reports described South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson’s new laws as coming quietly into effect this week, requiring R-rated movies to be displayed in plain packaging unless they are in an area quarantined from minors.

“The issue is not a matter of availability. R-rated movies are restricted to over 18’s and that should continue. But we need to ensure that a driver’s licence, pub card or passport is provided if the age of the hirer/purchaser is uncertain, the same as for alcohol or cigarettes.” said Mr Churchill

“Quarantining R-rated from minors is one thing. But plain packaging gives them an air of mischievousness and a naughty quality, which makes them more attractive. It’s reminiscent of soft porn magazines having to be sold under the counter and in brown paper bags in Bjelke-Petersen’s Queensland of the 1970s and 1980s.”

“South Australia’s new laws that restrict marketing and display of R18+ material make it more difficult for consumers to access information about media content, by preventing them from seeing posters and DVD covers that could help them make an informed decision about their viewing. Censorship prevents adult Australians making informed decisions. We do not want this sort of ridiculous behaviour mirrored in the ACT!” declared Mr Churchill.

“With South Australia taking knee-jerk action that hides useful information but has no effect on access to the product, it is surely time for a full national review of our classification laws?” queried Mr Churchill. “That includes allowing the states to sell X-rated material and not restricting it to the territories.”

“I often get frustrated with the wowser attitude that wants to stop X-rated movies but allow R-rated movies. Surely, they should be treated the same and sold through over-18 outlets (with appropriate identification), in the same way as cigarettes and alcohol are? Sometimes the strongest opponents of liberal censorship laws for adults are those with the most to hide.” continued Mr Churchill

“Also, like cigarettes, alcohol, gambling (pokies, TAB, casinos) and X-rated products, R-rated products should not be promoted to those who are too young to have legal access, nor be advertised on TV, radio, billboards, sporting ground ads, etc, in places which underage people frequent. But, they should be able to be promoted openly in venues, which are only open to those who can have legal access. That is, no restrictions if all those with access are over age.”

“Censorship for adults is wrong and we oppose it. But we do believe in some level of control of access for young people. What we are proposing is equal treatment of all age-restricted products.”

The ACT Democrats and I have consistently opposed government attempts to control information. The Democrats will continue to speak out for the right and responsibility of all individuals, especially parents, to determine for themselves and their families what is acceptable. The government’s role is to implement widely accepted community standards, not define them to suit particular lobby groups and impose them on the community.” Mr Churchill concluded.

Darren Churchill

President, Australian Democrats (ACT Division)

darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

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Media Release: 14th January 2010: Canberrans Need Action Not Words in Opposing Internet Censorship, say Democrats

14/01/2010

DARREN CHURCHILL

ACT Democrats President

Media Release: 14th January 2010:

Canberrans Need Action Not Words in Opposing Internet Censorship, say Democrats

ACT Democrats President, Darren Churchill says “Canberrans are entitled to action not simply words, in opposing Internet Censorship”

IT News reports yesterday described ACT Labor senator, Kate Lundy as “speaking out” against mandatory internet censorship and pushing for an “opt out” alternative to the Communications minister’s online blacklist.

“It’s all very well for Kate to speak out and say she opposes mandatory censorship” said Mr Churchill “But will her actions back her words when the legislation is introduced to parliament next month. Will Kate cross the floor and vote against her own party’s legislation?”

“Of course she won’t! The ALP’s rules forbid it!” declared Mr Churchill. “Kate can do all the talking she likes, but at the end of the day, she can never support her constituents over her party because of the agreement she has signed as a Labor Senator. That is, she can never vote with her conscience or she must resign and become an independent. And Kate’s not going to do that. Is she?” Mr Churchill continued.

“This is why Australia so desperately needs the Australian Democrats. We have consistently opposed mandatory Internet censorship and filtering. And we insist that our parliamentarians must vote with their conscience. That’s what “keeping the bastards honest” is all about – backing up what you promise with your actions in parliament.”

“There are already filters available for people who want to protect their children. This is rightly so. It is the right and responsibility of all individuals, especially parents, to determine for themselves and their families what is acceptable. It is highly appropriate that parents and schools should have access to a system of filtering to protect children at their discretion. But there should be no mandatory censorship.

“But I believe censorship is evil. It is abhorrent to anybody who believes in basic freedoms. We must not allow the censorship technology to be put in place because it can be potentially misused by the government of the day. It is far too easy for censorship to become a tool of control by totalitarian governments.”

The ACT Democrats and I have consistently opposed government attempts to control information. With an election due this year Australian Democrats candidates will continue to speak out for the right and responsibility of all individuals, especially parents, to determine for themselves and their families what is acceptable – and to oppose “Big Brother” governments. But we will not just speak. If elected, we will act!” Mr Churchill concluded.

Darren Churchill

President, Australian Democrats (ACT Division)

darren.churchill@act.democrats.org.au

Tel: 0412 196 473

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