Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s internet filter will be bad for Australia because it imposes censorship. But there could also be technical, commercial and cultural reasons – not yet examined – why the proposed filter might limit opportunities an…
Who would have thought a Labor Government would introduce Big-Brother-like ID numbers for school students! With the rationale that parents could “be able to track the records of a child’s schooling” even if they move schools.
I have been/am a teacher.…
Tasmania still has anti-freedom-to-blog laws that South Australia this month canned before the 20 March 2010 elections expected in both states. In Tassie, you can be fined $12,000 AND sent to jail for three months for not putting your name and address a…
Editor, CLA Your Opinion: The Tax Commissioner’s defence of his powers to break into homes and businesses without judicial warrants as ‘trust me, I’m a good guy’ is a dangerous argument. Powers such as these should be resisted when proposed, and removed…
Ideological but illogical, inefficient and expensive…words that sum up how the Australian Government buys in its legal expertise, Ernst Willheim says in analysing the recently-released Legal Services Procurement Report. The report has some excellent re…
Senator Lundy backs ‘opt out’ choiceSenator Kate Lundy (ALP, ACT), the most enlightened backbencher in federal parliament on IT matters, proposes ‘opt out’ options for all internet subscribers. Now, if only her party – particularly Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy – would li…
CLA has long argued the need for national legislation so Australians can find out what their DNA tells them without suffering penalties under insurance and superannuation rules. Cheaper DNA testing, sometimes sponsored by insurance companies, is bringin…
One CLA member has run into what he calls ‘hypocritical bullies’ administering land tax. He has had to produce a ‘sleep diary’ for three years – yes, three years – to prove he lives where he lives. What’s next – a thought diary to prove you haven’t thoug…
Why the scanners are wrongThroughout Australia, people are making personal decisions about full-body airport scanners. If you are against them (or for them), you can have your say by writing to the man responsible for the decision. Here Kathy Lund’s point of view.
To Mr Alban…
Round-robins of ‘tough on crime’ legislation go from state to state, nation to nation. Here, noted Manchester QC Mark George analyses the cumulative effect of years of repressive laws in the UK, which have whittled away the traditional protections of the…