Sedition Laws Target Peaceful Civil Disobedience : Melbourne Indymedia

In an extremely dangerous development for free speech that is yet to be picked up by the mainstream press, the new anti-terror bills clearly outlaw calls for non-violent civil disobedience.

The changes to the Sedition Act which are Part of Schedule 7 of the draft laws (p75) outline the following

"In this section:
seditious intention means an intention to effect any of the following purposes:
(a) to bring the Sovereign into hatred or contempt;
(b) to urge disaffection against the following:
(i) the Constitution;
(ii) the Government of the Commonwealth;
(iii) either House of the Parliament;
(c) to urge another person to attempt, otherwise than by lawful means, to procure a change to any matter established by law in the Commonwealth;
(d) to promote feelings of ill-will or hostility between different groups so as to threaten the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth.

I draw your attention to section c) which clearly targets not just peaceful civil disobedience but anyone who calls for civil disobedience. By definition the civil disobidence is involves the attempt to change a law through non-lawful means. So shortly when you put up a post on Indymedia calling for blockading in Gippsland, being part of a non-legally sanctioned picket, a sit in against uranium mining etc you could face 7 years gaol.

But wait you say - the government says that it is offering an "acting in good faith" defence against sedition charges. Read on:

(p79 of law)
80.3 Defence for Acts done in Good Faith
(1) Sections 80.1 and 80.2 do not apply to a person who:

(c) urges in good faith another person to attempt to lawfully procure a change to any matter established by law in the Commonwealth, a State, a Territory or another country;

Note the law specifically only offers a defence to people who act in good faith to urge others LAWFULLY procure a change to the law. So the law on sedition specifically offers no defence to those who call for changes to law to happen outside the law ie this obviously includes peaceful non-violent civil disobedience.

So the new sedition law makes it a serious criminal offence to even call for an act of peaceful civil disobedience.

The sedition law also only offers a defence to those involved in union actions if

"e) does anything in good faith in connection with an industrial dispute or an industrial matter."
What the hell does this mean. Who decides what industrial actions "are in good faith". Its totally open to interpretation of the courts who we know can sometimes come down very hard on militant union action. So now calling for a picket if it is outside the ever narrowing legal framework of legal disputes will be a crime facing up to seven years gaol.

The mainstream press are not even covering this aspect of the laws - but the deportation of a U.S. activist Scott Parkin who was calling for you guessed it - peaceful non-violent civil disobedience as a "national security threat" shows who the government are gunning for.

These Sedition Laws are a drastic attack on free speech and are worthy of a fascist police state. I defy someone to explain to me how these aspects of the Sedition Laws can be justified as part of the so-called "War on Terror". How will these changes to the sedition laws make us safer? Rather it is obvious that these laws are designed to give the state the power it desires to crush dissent.

I call on everyone to read the laws for themselves as there is some really scary stuff in them and hope to see you at the rally on Saturday October 22nd State Parliament 1 PM.

This 1980 poster by CRASS for the single Bloody Revolutions might be enough to get you nicked under the proposed sedition laws. Graphic by Gee Vaucher from 'CRASS ART and other pre post-modernist Monsters' published by http://www.akpress.org

This is not 'Manufacturing Concent'
It's BREEDING Concent!

Bloody.

god save the queen
the fascist regime
they made you a moron
potential H bomb

god save the queen
'cos tourists are money
our figure head
is not what she seems
oh god save history
god save your mad parade
oh lord god have mercy
all crimes are paid
when there's no future
how can there be sin
we're the flowers in the dustbin
we're the poison in your human machine
we're the future you're future
god save the queen
we mean it man
we love our queen
god saves

Throw shoes.

I love a good demo but lets face it what a waste of time.

Throwing shoes into overhead cables is a convenience service, it is low cost high impact civil diss.

My local area has been blitzed according to the free press, its a community artz project run by drug dealers apparently as they report it, just wanton vandalism, but I fail to see the damage, hows your area for sightings?

Sure everyone says demonstrate, but everyone know its useless.

No to war
No to old growth and the gov says, yes to everything they have a mind to support.

America or corporations, not people.

Demonstrations are for wishful thinkers, the rights of idiots displayed.

ello, its my democratik right to walk around in a crowd as long as i have a noter from my government that says i will be tolerated as long as i don’t retaliate violently in response to police violence.

Seriously?

Swing some shoes

New Laws Revealed!

- 14 day Preventative Detention Without Charge

- 5 years jail for revealing detention,

- Federal Police given power to use lethal force to enforce Detention

- Control Orders involving tracking devices and home detention which can be extended indefinitely

- Sedition Laws with up to 7 years jail for criticising the government, calling for peaceful civil disobedience or supporting the rights of people to resist occupation

Demonstration for Civil Liberties

Parliament House - Spring St

Saturday October 22nd at 1pm

MC-ROD QUANTOCK

SPEAKERS:

Senator Bob Brown

Brian Walters (Liberty Victoria),

Urfa Masood (Muslim Barrister),

Marika Dias (Anti-Terror Law Expert),

Iain Murray (Friends of Scott Parkin),

Joseph Toscano (People for Constitutional Human Rights).

MUSIC(Penelope Swales) & STREET THEATRE

They lied to us about Weapons of Mass Destruction, they lied to us about Children Overboard and now they want us to trust them when they say these new laws are for our own safety!!

Say No to Terror – Say no to War - Say No To Tyranny

ENDORSED BY : Liberty Victoria • Federation of Community Legal Centres • Greenpeace • Friends of the Earth •National Union of Students • Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth • Friends of Scott Parkin • Australian Centre for

Democracy and Justice • Lesbian and Gay Solidarity• Nuclear Free Australia •

Anarchist Black Cross • International Socialist Org. People for Constitutional Human ights • Stop the War Coalition

NEW POSTER FOR RALLY ATTACHED: Please put up Poster and email through contacts

Click Poster Link

http://democracyandjustice.org/civilliberties

SEE LINK TO DRAFT OF NEW TERROR LAWS BELOW

http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/whats_new.asp?title=What's%20New

Relevant recent Age article:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/michelle-grattan/deflating-terrors-bubble/2005/10/15/1128796745073.html

I was happy to see that flyer all over the place in my area, good to see somebody had been doing a bit of leg work hehe.

That Section (c) you're so scared of in the "new" laws has actually been in place since 1920. So it doesn't outlaw anything that isn't already outlawed.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca191482/s24a.html

CRIMES ACT 1914 - SECT 24A
Definition of seditious intention

An intention to effect any of the following purposes, that is to say:

(a) to bring the Sovereign into hatred or contempt;
(d) to excite disaffection against the Government or Constitution of the Commonwealth or against either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth;
(f) to excite Her Majesty's subjects to attempt to procure the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter in the Commonwealth established by law of the Commonwealth; or
(g) to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different classes of Her Majesty's subjects so as to endanger the peace, order or good government of the Commonwealth;

is a seditious intention.

Mockery? They're trying to legislate mockery??? Dress like the ol hag for Hallowe'en everyone. Take a vassel with you to grovel. Take a jester to enlighten the peasants on how really really free they are. A TOAST A TOAST to those who make us beggars! A TOAST to those who hoard the commons still! The huns are pounding down the door. We must be near. Hark the splinters pierce the air! Down with the monarchy! It is unworthy of our collective intelligence. The door is won. The disease is our shackles. WE ARE FREE, WHEN THEY ARE DONE!!!

preventive detention?

be scared

Yes its true that the crime of sedition is not new - being created as part of the Federal Crimes Act 1914.

OLD DEFINTION OF SEDITIOUS INTENT
CRIMES ACT 1914 - SECT 24A
Definition of seditious intention An intention to effect any of the following purposes, that is to say:
(a) to bring the Sovereign into hatred or contempt;
(d) to excite disaffection against the Government or Constitution of the Commonwealth or against either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth;
(f) to excite Her Majesty's subjects to attempt to procure the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter in the Commonwealth established by law of the Commonwealth; or
(g) to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different classes of Her Majesty's subjects so as to endanger the peace, order or good government of the Commonwealth;

NEW DEFINTION OF SEDITIOUS INTENT
(3) In this section:
14 seditious intention means an intention to effect any of the following purposes:
16 (a) to bring the Sovereign into hatred or contempt;
17 (b) to urge disaffection against the following:
18 (i) the Constitution;
19 (ii) the Government of the Commonwealth;
20 (iii) either House of the Parliament;
21 (c) to urge another person to attempt, otherwise than by lawful means, to procure a change to any matter established by law in the Commonwealth;
24 (d) to promote feelings of ill-will or hostility between different groups so as to threaten the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth

What is new and signigificant is that the government is including these changes to the Sedition Act as part of its anti-terrorism bills. It is explicitly linking the crime of sedition which can plainly be applied to those calling for peaceful civil disobedience to national security and terrorism. It is also increasing the penalties. As mentioned in the article the governments actions on Scott Parkin - labelling him a national security threat shows that they do define non-violent civil disobedience as a security issue. I believe that the Government is including these changes to the Sedition Laws as part of this package as they have every intention of using these laws in the near future against activists.
Can someone explain to me (perhaps get some perspective) why the Government is including these sedition laws as part of the anti-terrorism package if they dont intend to use them?

Every time Joseph Toscano surfaces, it's under a different organisation.

His letters printed in the Age state he represents the Anarchist Media Institute (whatever that is).

Now he's batting for "People for Constitutional Human Rights". Who is this group? Do they have a consitution? What's their membership? How many members?

Get two or three activists together, call yourself a Coalition for Whatever and shill yourself at protests.

By the way, this whole conversation is happening simultaneously here: http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/97424_comment.php and it seems this is a repeat post to drum up more publicity for this non-event.

Obviously the post is not 'offensive enough' to warrant hiding as someone on The Collective must like it...
(See also: http://indymediawatch.blogspot.com/2005/10/hidden-truths.html)

Hi, after reading my way through all the contributing comments on this article, I can only assume, that you all have successfully gained liberties in previous battles. So, to me it seems to have maximun effect, to express ONE message, and dominantly ONE message only.
Stop the illegal war in IRAQ!
All these fascist totalitarian tendencies, are feeding from displaying, and acting out MILITARISM. Take that despicable value of false hero worship, warrior mentality, and general bullying away, and the rest will fracture, and will be much easier defeated. Look at the history of the 2nd WW.
I can only sincerely hope, you know, what you are standing up FOR . Because voicing dissent on a plethora of ills, will not be effective.
Stop the War, and we will stop the rest of shitty things.
martin,
Scan Dot Org
http://nimbinradiomedia.libsyn.com
http://nimfm.org

I have to agree, Martin, the link between these shitty new laws is clear.

The trouble, nothing that I have been officially hearing gives me the impression that we have any choice now. Can Aussie pull our troops out of IRAK and Aphganistan? Probably they can, but what about the economic hit man?

As a man, as yourself, who enjoys a good podcast (I don't have a pod but I listen to the indyradio all the time) I would like to hear your thoughts on this program

Slave Revolt Radio:
Imperial Peace Advocates

Tying in all other concerns under a banner of civil liberties does encourage dilution of the main game.

Remember when the governments sang out in one voice? They all said, we will not allow the terrorists to win, we will not allow them to change the way we live, our freedoms will not be affected, the best revenge is to live as we did, such behaviour will send the message loud and clear, we have the best countries, you cannot shake our democracies!>

But now they are running scared of everyone, putting a shield between us and them, for no apparent reason that I can see. I must have slept through the attack coz where are the terrorists aside from in Iraq?

I remember when Australia went to Iraq as part of the war on terror, at that time there were no terrorist there, don you remember? They were called Saddam loyalists.
After the Afghanistan war we were victorious in giving backward Muslim nations peace and democracy in record time and Iraq was just the next on the list, where we qwon hearts and minds. Our john thought they should have a federation style democracy, do you remember, such happy times.

So what went wrong?

The war’s were never over, democracy was never offered, just like in our nation a vote was requested from a dummed down population who, in the middle east, were asked in American held elections which of the American chosen leaders will govern when America leaves, in advertisement the campaign ads showed just that, American troops leaving Iraq. So the vote came down to just personalities.

Here the same one ticket was explained, which of the two parties would deliver low interest rates? We were offered Latham or Howard, a left and right wing choice, a Howard won across the senate, and Mark was replaced by Howard’s impotent deputy.

When Howard took control of parliament house, he said he will not take advantage of his control of the senate.

In what way has he missed an opportunity to extract any ounce of available power?

He has undermined the unions and introduced draconian laws to curtail any future civil disobedience.

In much the same way we helped Iraq become a democracy, and we helped the people there our government under advice from Washington intends to do the same here,

The anti Terrorist law’s were not ready for the states who fear funding cuts, but all of the nations capitals agreed the measures would be advisable, coming in the way they d9d after Bali.

Do you seriously believe withdrawing from Iraq would make the threat of Islamic terrorism go away?

If so, withdraw from the debate immediately, you are embarrassing yourself.

Numerous Militant Islamic attacks pre-dated Iraq, pre-dated the modern State of Israel, pre-dated 9/11 and pre-dated any other excuse people can come up with when looking in all the wrong places for the "root causes" of terror.

There's an incomplete list here: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com and it really doesn't help your argument.

Kirk McKenzie just published a review of the draft bill on New matilda: http://www.newmatilda.com/home/articledetailmagazine.asp?ArticleID=1045&CategoryID=89

Thankyou for drawing our attention to section (c) which targets unlawful behaviour.

Strange for a law to do that.

Not.

So you're afraid of going to jail for 7 years for encouraging some dunderhead to break the law by staging a blockade?

Spare me.

You think you'll go to jail for 10 years if you steal a Mars Bar from Coles? Victorian legislation provides for 10 years imprisonment on conviction for theft.

No, the laws aren't designed to capture imbeciles who encourage others to do silly things. They're designed to capture those who encourage others to commit acts of violence, inclusing terrorisim, to effect political change.

Most people know and appreciate this.

That's why most people don't agree with you and why most people won't be there on Saturday for the protest.

And why most people, especially me, regard you as...yes...you guessed it...a FUCKWIT.

Nazi-"hunter" continues with his fine tradition of ignoring evidence, spreading Islamophobia and bleating about Al CIAda.

Fuckwit Watcher's interesting.

"Most people know and appreciate this.

That's why most people don't agree with you and why most people won't be there on Saturday for the protest."

So why does FW feel the need to tell us this? If the rally is part of a movement which is ineffectual, surely it's opponents shouldn't give it any credibility by acknowledging it's existence.

"And why most people, especially me, regard you as...yes...you guessed it...a FUCKWIT."

What can be said about the character of someone who deliberately hangs about online with people they consider fuckwits?

These are all interesting questions which should probably be looked at someday, but I suspect that most of us have more important issues to deal with at the moment.

Do you seriously believe withdrawing from Iraq would make the threat of Islamic terrorism go away?

Well here’s the rub, Antibody, there’s a deep rip in the black and white fabric of what you regard as right and what’s wrong with the world,

the rip is caused by consumerism while you seem to want a culture or person to blame, I say it’s a shopping addiction. I’ll explain

Without Middle Eastern oil consumerism here grinds to a halt, we cannot exist 1st world without it, so pulling out of Iraq can not happen in our lifetimes or until the oil dries up, whichever comes first ahead of global warming.

This paradox could also explain why terrorism predates 911, as oil conflicts date back to the deal struck between the Kaisers Germany and the Ottoman Empire in 1890, after which the British Empire got stuck into the economic comp and took over in the Middle East so the link with Anglo rule, interference and terrorism has always been strong for a century because we’ve always been there interfering,

how would you react if it were them here?,

Would you colaborate or be a defender?

but such terrorism gave no excuse for War on Terror unti 2001, so why did it take that long for the west to name the monster it created?

Was it because we had a problem having war on things we don’t like?

Nope, not with successes like War on Dope forging the way.

“ Numerous Militant Islamic attacks pre-dated Iraq, pre-dated the modern State of Israel, pre-dated 9/11 and pre-dated any other excuse people can come up with when looking in all the wrong places for the "root causes" of terror.”

The reason for war after 911 was to push through plans to build the trans Afghan pipeline, something that was under negotiation between bush rumsfelt and the Taliban in 1998 while the continued aid received by the Taliban aided the now failed war on drugs.

After the successful war to capture OBL it came time for GWB son of snake to invade occupy and rule in Iraq, something that America has needed to push through since the failed attempt in 1991, and we both agree it was done in 2202 on the most flimsy of excuses.

WMD

But let’s say in a perfect world with copious amounts of alternative clean green energy we could leave Iraq oil and maintain the demands of consumerism from only renewable resources.

Sure we could withdraw from the Middle East completely, as aside from oil we have no business there, if oil was no longer of value we could leave.

We could Apologize and offer to share, for free, technology so that they could spare the world from burning their own fossil fuels.

I’m imagining a perfect world here so bear with me

Then Israel would fall in a heap, the despot regimes in Saudi and Kuwait would be swallowed whole by the deserts leaving goat herders to control the balance of power in Arabia, the Shepard’s would become kings,

incapable of harming anyone while the Jews would be denied luxury and the sponger status they currently achieve and free hand outs from the supporter who no longer needed their burden would dry to a trickle.

Those on western welfare living on ill gotten gains while profiting on then proceeds of conflict diamonds in the Promised Land would have to return to Europe or come here to fill out our aging population with inbred bloodlines.

”If so, withdraw from the debate immediately, you are embarrassing yourself”.

I don’t think so, but you should take you’re own advice.

There's an incomplete list here: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com and it really doesn't help your argument.

Lucky I have researched my own argument do you have a come back?
Try explaining why Muslims are wrong when we invaded their countries to save them from their own leaders by killing more of them for no good reason.

or dry up

Thank you for your mentioning me in dispatches.

'Acknowledging my existence', if you will. Ahem.

'What can be said about the character of someone who deliberately hangs about online with people they consider fuckwits? '

Well, for one I have always enjoyed watching from a distance those who make me feel so much better about myself. It's such a cathartic experience and does wonders for the ego.

Secondly, from a very young age I've had this perverse inclination to tease small animals. Helpless creatures, caught in the car headlights of life, so to speak.

And believe me, these pages are replete with dullards, simpletons, imbeciles, morons, goons, prejudiced idiots and fellators.

A veritable smorgasboard of the 'whose who 'of imbecilia.

I hope this has answered your question. Please do not hesitate to post here again if you have any further queries.

Regards.

FW

To "Simon" - Your theories about oil are all very interesting, however Islamic and Mohammedan crusades and their violence predate the discovery of oil so most of the rest of your argument falls apart on that basis.

As for spreading "Islamophobia"? Changeling, YOU are a fuckwit. Explain what exactly it is you are accusing me of and on what basis I am guilty. By linking to a list of ISlamic terrorist attacks? Oh, right. You think they are all really Mossad/CIA black operations. My bad.

Back to Simon, following your hypothetical raises an interesting theory. When the oil in the Middle East dries up (and it will), Israel will be the one country which has a chance, having created agriculture, high-technology, research and a productive output in the absence of oil. Most of the Arab states however, will be royally fucked and no doubt insist it is all the Jews fault as the Jews are not starving to death at the time. Pretty much what they are doing at the moment.

"'Acknowledging my existence', if you will. Ahem."

Of course! Why wouldn't I?

"Well, for one I have always enjoyed watching from a distance those who make me feel so much better about myself. It's such a cathartic experience and does wonders for the ego. "

So you consider "fuckwits" to be a high enough benchmark for you? Fascinating!

"Secondly, from a very young age I've had this perverse inclination to tease small animals. Helpless creatures, caught in the car headlights of life, so to speak."

So you're admitting to being a weakling? And here I was thinking you were a hard case! btw, be careful you don't end up like this guy - http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/21/D8DCCAI83.html - or is yr local petshop refusing to sell you Gerbils now?

"And believe me, these pages are replete with dullards, simpletons, imbeciles, morons, goons, prejudiced idiots and fellators."

Indeed. There's even a guy who's so idiotically prejudiced, he considers himself superior to people who perform manual labour! - http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/08/75593_comment.php#75818 and don't get me started on the coterie of paranoid conspiracy loons who persist in promoting James Bond-esque fantasies about the 9/11 attacks! (That's Nazi"Hunter's" job :) - http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2003/11/58167_comment.php#58257

"I hope this has answered your question."

Largely. I'm reasonably familiar with the psychopath. http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/04/67317_comment.php#67321 Some say the psychopath is the best part of us.....

"Please do not hesitate to post here again if you have any further queries."

Thankyou - and thanks for the catharsis.

Ah yes - Nazi"hunter"

"Changeling, YOU are a fuckwit."

Maybe. Certainly, that label was appropriate when I was stupid enough to defend you a while back - http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/04/66001_comment.php#66409 Fortunately, I corrected the error - http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/08/75983_comment.php#76094

"Explain what exactly it is you are accusing me of and on what basis I am guilty."

I've done so, many times.
"Nazi-"hunter" continues with his fine tradition of ignoring evidence, spreading Islamophobia and bleating about Al CIAda."

Your focus on atrocities committed by those who call themselves Muslims while ignoring other atrocities is basis enough. Then there's the numerous pieces of evidence I've provided for you which clearly show your interpretation of the "War on Terror" is severely flawed, which you've either ignored or dismissed with little more than logical fallacies. If you're interested I'd be happy to expend the time providing them for you (and anyone else for that matter) again, giving you another opportunity to respond in a mature manner.

"Oh, right. You think they are all really Mossad/CIA black operations. My bad. "

Strawman - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man - unfortunately the anti-Nazi Nizkor site link http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/straw-man.html is currently down.

Care to say where Mossad is mentioned? Actually, the only one who brought Mossad or Israel into this thread is you. Why?
Could it be that you're bored now that virtually all your "anti"-Zionist opposames have disappeared?

Also, a *real* Nazihunter would likely be interested in the recent events at Gush Katif - http://www.barrychamish.com/html/israel_nazi_kapos.html
I haven't heard a peep out of you or any other mindless pro-Israel supporter on that one.
Care to comment?

No theory
Fact.

And you are right again,

The Europeans will survive amongst the Arabs in the Middle East, they have the bomb so Arabs will not tempt or force their finger onto that trigger.

Israelis are inbred enough to light the blue touch paper and stand real close to it.

And yes your right Israel has developed agriculture, and made a hydroponic harvest out of US subsidised agricultural development aid using free labour but Arabs developed the tap, and they can turn it off at will, or piss into the dam water.

Israel has developed industry, but no local supplier of oil will sell them any supplies, so power is generated by burning shale oil. It’s a little environmentally harmful, but that suits Israelis as the squatters inhabit one of the most self-polluted pieces of trash estate on the planet.

Remember the Jews who fell in the water during the Jew Games after the bridge collapsed?, they did not drown

They were poisoned on contact with what Israel calls, Jew runoff

Israel does rely upon more aid from America than any nation in Africa, but Israel will be worthless to western forces when the oil runs out.

That’s when time runs out for Israel and the Middle East.
As those who are left will have one thing between them and retribution, the bomb.

And guess whose coward enough to use the suicide Euthanasia device?.

Yes that’s right
Inbred colonialist Europeans, Jews who are too stupid to realise they are being used by Christians,

Hitler would be pissing himself; Jews are concentrated cannon fodder for an established frontline in all present and future Middle Eastern conflict.

They could not have planned it better, but it wasn’t really planned because no one would have thought a race would be so stupid, but as Jews are not a race but a half remembered religion, who should be surprised that each and every Jew is prepared to die for western profit.

Jews are more useful than lamp shades; Hitler would be amazed at what westerners have turned them into.

Davey, you've picked up on an interesting point there: the linking of Sedition with terrorism.
Take a further look around the media and you will notice an increasing prevalence of words phrases associated with terrorism being used in describing common criminal acts.
Keep watching - these creeping changes in the use of language will take us down a scary path!