Media Release: 20 November 2007: Only the Democrats will protect your privacy
20/11/2007
Bring Back Balance
ACT Democrats 2007
Media Release 20 November 2007
Only the Democrats will protect your privacy
“We will stop mobile phones from being bugging devices!” declared privacy campaigner and Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill
The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2007 which gives significant new powers to law enforcement agencies to listen to private conversations, was passed by the Liberal government with the support of the Labor opposition in September
There is no provision for them to require a warrant. And no accountability to the courts or to the parliament. The government plans to replace the Medicare Card with an Access Card (a national identity card) by 2010.
The Democrats Privacy Policy and Access Card survey were released by Senator Natasha Stott Despoja in Adelaide today.
“We need to reform the Privacy Act to give people greater protection. Our privacy laws haven’t kept pace with new technologies. Anti-terror laws forced through by the government and the opposition have increased the powers of enforcement agencies, but have failed to guarantee protection of privacy.” Mr Churchill said
“There is no accountability, no checks and balances under these laws. The Democrats are committed to reform the Privacy Act to ensure peoples’ privacy and to making sure the draconian anti-terror laws are wound back immediately”
“Peoples’ right to privacy includes being protected from the introduction of an Access Card. It is nothing short of a national identity card, and will create the largest mass centralisation of personal information we have ever seen in Australia” Mr Churchill said. “The government claims it won’t be compulsory, but people won’t be able to use government services without it. That mightn’t be technically compulsory, but it is coercion, a bit like the poll tax the Thatcher government had in the UK.”
“The Access Card is worse that the old Australia Card which was proposed in the 1980s because technology and the ability to store and track personal information is so much more sophisticated than it was back then”
Mr Churchill (who was involved in the anti-Australia Card rallies of 1986) said “Only by the Democrats using the balance of power to block the Australia Card were we able to see it eventually abandoned. Again, it is only the Democrats who will protect people from the Access Card and centralised data bases now.”
“Even the best intended privacy legislation will not prevent future governments from increasing the coverage and uses of the card (function creep). It has the potential to become a domestic passport and will enable peoples’ every movement to be tracked.” Mr Churchill said.
“The Democrats survey showed that 73% of people are opposed to an ID card outright. I will continue to campaign against an Access Card, as the Democrats and I have always done. Democrats are the only party that can be trusted to protect your privacy.” Mr Churchill concluded.
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
Media Release: 20 November 2007: Only the Democrats can win for the environment
20/11/2007Bring Back Balance
ACT Democrats 2007
Media Release 20 November 2007
Only the Democrats can win for the environment
“Immediate action is needed to decarbonise the economy, if we are to be serious about avoiding dangerous climate change” says Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill
Last weeks Walk Against Warming, held in major cities, has again highlighted the dangers of global warming. Tonight, Greens leader Bob Brown was interviewed on Lateline.
“The Greens position on climate change is questionable. I’m not sure that they can really be trusted. They have allied themselves very strongly with the pro-uranium, pro-coal, pro-pulp mill Labor Party. Only the Democrats can guarantee a non-aligned position and a genuinely independent position on climate change.” said Mr Churchill
“We’ve been warning about climate change for years. The environmental consequences predicted by the Democrats nearly 20 years ago are finally starting to be taken seriously.”
”Democrats actions which were seen as radical in the early 90s, such as enabling ethanol to be blended with petrol, are now very much the norm. We’ve been winning victories for the environment for many years. Things such as excise cuts for clean fuels, greenhouse abatement and vehicle conversion packages for alternative fuels. There have been many others.”
”We will make much more progress on these matters now too. The environment is a mainstream concern now, just as we always said it should be. The Democrats are Australia’s first environment party, and we will continue to take a strong stand on these matters.” declared Mr Churchill.
”The Democrats will introduce a raft of environmental legislation into the new parliament, such as emissions certificate trading, greenhouse reduction targets, transferring coal and gas subsidies to renewables, tax on coal exports, and remove regulatory barriers to renewable energy and energy efficiency.”
“Only the Democrats have the experience to convince the other parties to tackle climate change head-on. Our track record is proven. We are the negotiators”
“It’s high time for Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and to show some leadership by pressing the USA and others to do likewise. We must take the initiative by leading by example with decisive action on climate change” Mr Churchill concluded.
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
As the elected member for FRASER I will:
19/11/2007- balance economic policy with social and environmental considerations. Good economic management is about getting the balance right. It’s a “triple bottom line;”
- introduce human rights and privacy legislation that will protect all people, regardless of race, gender, religion or place of origin. NO privacy invasions, NO Access Card;
- ensure that law enforcement agencies are accountable to the courts and the parliament;
- maintain the traditional Democrats principle of supporting legislation that is fair and equitable and seek to amend and make fairer that which is not;
- support social spending programmes for affordable housing and Paid Maternity Leave;
- ensure that whichever party forms the government, they are held accountable for their actions;
- support industries that create jobs and are kind to the environment, and not those that will make problems for future generations. NO uranium mining and NO nuclear reactors;
- encourage investment in sustainable agricultural practices and sensible rural water management.
- encourage sensible use and management of urban water;
- encourage and support environmentally sustainable practices in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Media Release: 19-11-2007: Socially Minded Economics
19/11/2007Bring Back Balance
ACT Democrats 2007
Media Release 19 November 2007
There’s still room for socially minded economics say Democrats
“A third competitor is needed to provide choice in economic policy”, says Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.
Articles in the Canberra Times (November 13) and the Sydney Morning Herald (November 17) described the way in which both Liberal and Labor deliberately position themselves close to each other on economic matters and offer an almost identical product, like two ice-cream stalls on a beach locating next to each other for fear of losing customers. The idea is referred to in business and economics as Hotelling’s Law.
A change only comes when a third player enters the market and offers something different.
“Both the Liberals and the ALP are bribing people with big tax cuts and big spending. I’m not against tax cuts, but I think they could be implemented more equitably, with those on middle and lower incomes getting them first.”
“Social spending should be put ahead of tax cuts. It has to be a priority. I think the tax cuts could be phased in more slowly. I’d like to see more money for hospitals, schools, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and a national Paid Maternity Leave scheme ahead of any tax cuts’ Mr Churchill said.
“There’s no plan announced for any form of tax indexation, so we can reasonably expect both of the old parties to finance their promises from bracket creep, public sector cutbacks or just make some excuse to break them altogether. Labor has already threatened the public service with a ‘razor gang.’ ”
“We’ve seen all this before. Howard’s 1977 ‘fistful of dollars’ was reneged on in 1978. Then came the Lynch ‘razor gang’ in the 1980s. We saw it again with the public service cuts in the late 90s. This stuff is starting to sound scarily familiar.”
“Both of the old parties have become so conservative, they’ve forgotten the concept of government spending on real social reform. If they are looking for a real way to return a Budget surplus to the taxpayer, let’s have some specific purpose money given to the states and territories for public hospitals, public education (without any nasty conditions), public transport, solutions for affordable housing, energy efficiency and climate change. And let’s have a government funded national Paid Maternity Leave scheme.” said Mr Churchill
“Of course, all this needs to be paid for. So, lets’ slow the implementation of tax cuts, and broaden the tax base by tightening up Capital Gains Tax and Fringe Benefits Tax”
“If they want to behave like they’re selling ice-creams, well so be it. But, I want to offer a different flavour!” Mr Churchill declared.
“The Democrats want balance. It has to be fair to the economy, fair on a social level and fair to the environment” concluded Mr Churchill
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
Pick me! pick me! – Candidates for Fraser
19/11/2007
I offer a strong voice of the progressive centre in Fraser. I’ll fight for what is right and provide a balanced approach in the parliament. Our poor country is hurting from the divisive politics of exclusion and fear. It’s time for healing, to be inclusive of all, regardless of race, religion or gender. Increased powers of surveillance and law enforcement in the name of freedom and without accountability are of great concern to me. I offer fair representation. I’ll work for a socially just, environmentally sustainable, economically responsible Australia.
(Profile of me published in “City News” in Canberra, November, 15, 2007
Media Release: 18-11-2007: Democrats Defend Gay Rights
18/11/2007Bring Back Balance
ACT Democrats 2007
Media Release 18 November 2007
Democrats Defend Gay Rights
“Discriminatory laws against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (GLBTI) people must be changed” says Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.
In August, the Australian Democrats introduced a Same-Sex Entitlement Bill into the Senate. The Bill aimed to amend the 58 discriminatory laws identified by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in their report of May 2007, Same-Sex: Same Entitlements, as being discriminatory against same-sex couples.
“A truly liberal democratic society would have ended these intolerant, discriminatory laws long ago” Mr Churchill said. “They are laws that encourage and entrench bigotry and homophobia and this cannot be allowed to continue.”
“The Liberal/National coalition and the Labor party have a bad record on issues aimed at ending discrimination against GLBTI people. Only the Democrats have consistently supported equality on sexuality and gender identity issues.”
“We’ve made a number of attempts at getting anti-discrimination laws passed to protect the rights of GLBTI people. Our Sexuality and Gender Identity Discrimination Bill and our Sexuality Anti-Vilification Bill are just two examples.
“Democrats initiatives have managed to get property rights extended to same-sex in relation to private superannuation funds. We will keep the pressure up to get the same entitlements extended to same-sex couples under public superannuation schemes.”
“I call on the coalition and the ALP to commit to redressing the laws which discriminate against same-sex couples, and to recognise that all Australians are equal.”
“It doesn’t matter whether a person is gay, straight or whatever. We are all human beings. And in sharing a common humanity, in the name of love, all people have a right to be treated with dignity, respect and equality under the law.” Mr Churchill concluded.
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
Media Release: 18-11-2007: Nuclear Madness
18/11/2007Bring Back Balance
ACT Democrats 2007
Media Release 18 November 2007
Only the Democrats can stop the nuclear madness
“Only the Australian Democrats can stop a nuclear reactor being built in the Jervis Bay Territory”, says Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.
The Jervis Bay Territory has long been considered as a site for Australia’s first Nuclear Power Station. And with the government committed to a nuclear future, the Territory is likely to be pushed as one of their 25 proposed sites.
“The Liberals want to commit Australia to a nuclear future. Labor tries to have it both ways, saying they oppose reactors but intending to expand uranium mining. And the Greens can’t be trusted because they have done a preference deal with the Labor party who they know are pro-uranium, and because some so-called environmentalists are pro-nuclear’ Mr Churchill said.
“The Australian Democrats position has always been that we want a clean Australia, with no uranium mines, no nuclear reactors and no radioactive waste. We don’t do deals with pro-nuclear parties. And we support the Non Proliferation Treaty on nuclear weapons. Nuclear power and proliferation of weapons are two sides of the same coin. It is a dangerous path to go down.”
Mr Churchill, who visited the Jervis bay Territory (which includes Booderee National Park) two weeks ago said, “It is an absolutely beautiful area. I will not allow Jervis Bay (or any other part of my electorate) to be destroyed by a horrible, dangerous nuclear reactor.”
“The only way the people of Fraser (and Australians generally) can guarantee that we will not proceed down the path of nuclear stupidity is to elect the Australian Democrats to the Senate and the House of Representatives. We will ensure that the money they intend to spend on this lunacy will be put to better investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency.” concluded Mr Churchill.
Darren Churchill
Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser
Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au
0412 196 473
Darren Churchill: Australian Democrats Campaigns 