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 at the bottom of election comment online. CLA today called for Tasmania also to abandon the repressive legislation.
Media release – Tasmania should abandon $12,000 fine, 3 months’ jail for anonymous election comment
‘Internet is parliament of ideas and information’ – SA Premier Mike Rann
Civil Liberties Australia today called on the Tasmanian Government to repeal draconian election comment laws, equally as bad as those recently abandoned in South Australia.
In Tasmania, you can be fined $12,000 – and sent to jail for three months as well – if you comment on a blog about the election anonymously, without your full name and address.
“Such oppresssive laws have no place in Australia,” CLA’s national spokesperson Tim Vines said.
“The SA Government abandoned similar laws this month; Tasmania should do the same, and quickly.
“In the five years since Tassie passed the local anti-free speech laws, the way young people communicate has changed dramatically: there’s instant news, text messaging and personal comment on Twitter and Facebook and through other social media.
“It makes no sense to penalise young people for taking an interest in elections, and making comment using the tools they normally use in the way they normally communicate.
“Young people should be encouraged, not fined and jailed, for being interested in politics,” he said. “There’s a strong tradition emerging that, online, you can remain anonymous if you want. That’s how blogs work around the world.”
After abandoning a similar law this month, SA Premier Mike Rann said: “For many young people, and even the not so young, internet is their parliament of ideas and information.”
Mr Vines said CLA believes Tasmanian political party leaders should promise to abandon the local law before it affects the coming election. All parties should state publicly that no-one will be convicted for making genuine comment online on serious election issues.
Digital Tasmania calls for action on internet electoral law: http://www.digitaltasmania.org