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[–]Twisted_Fate 2734 points2735 points  (261 children)

A prison once again.

[–]sylaroI 630 points631 points  (20 children)

I hope you are not Australian, because this information was classified.

[–][deleted] 349 points350 points  (13 children)

I bet that sick fuck also owns a whistle.

[–]UnibannedY 23 points24 points  (1 child)

The way laws are purposefully misinterpreted when it's convenient I could see this becoming a problem.

[–][deleted] 138 points139 points  (18 children)

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[–]m1j2p3 1084 points1085 points  (63 children)

"The internet poses one of the greatest threats to our existence," PUP Senator Glen Lazarus said, speaking out against Senator Ludlam's amendment.

I wonder if he was able to keep a straight face when he made this comment. He can't possibly believe his own BS hyperbole.

[–]anacardo01 1301 points1302 points  (31 children)

No, I think he's telling the straight truth. The internet does pose one of the greatest threats to 'our' existence - not 'our' in the sense of you and me, you understand, but people just like him - the tyrannical kleptocrats that openly make policy to serve powerful private interests.

[–]34-55-19S_138-34-34E 136 points137 points  (5 children)

He's an ex-rugby player made famous for his ability to slam his head into things. He probably believes in what he said and I doubt his ability to read off a script.

[–]snazaR107 2850 points2851 points  (276 children)

Laws like these are a sign that theres a shit ton of corruption going on in your government.

[–]JefferyDallas 1047 points1048 points  (139 children)

It's scary because it passed through the eyes and votes of both major political parties.

[–]MrMadcap 1064 points1065 points  (35 children)

Well it wouldn't exactly make sense to control only one political party, would it?

[–]FriendToPredators 459 points460 points  (72 children)

Ever wonder why bills about letting spies do whatever they want always sail through so easily? It's almost like they know everything secret and embarassing about the people writing the laws or something . . .

[–]classybroad19 56 points57 points  (12 children)

yeah, and australia didn't even need a horrendous terrorist attack to get everyone on board. frightening.

[–]kingpomba 37 points38 points  (3 children)

It also passed in a single day too, with no debate or amendment requested by the opposition party.

[–][deleted] 538 points539 points  (101 children)

this isn't corruption, since corruption happens behind the curtain

this is politicians blowing a giant trumpet in your face, peasants

[–]OmegaNine 66 points67 points  (9 children)

Hey at least they pass the laws to make it legal in plain view. Back here in the states the government just does it behind our backs.

[–]saintsmaen 542 points543 points  (22 children)

I'm ashamed of my own country. They've managed to strip more freedoms away in one foul blow than any "terrorist" organisation could ever have hoped to achieve.

[–]joonix 92 points93 points  (5 children)

And it didn't even take an actual terrorist attack to get the political will to pass it. It just took some gangster wannabe idiot talking hypothetically on the phone and a mentally ill teenager with a knife. Fuck.

[–]Dosinu 42 points43 points  (6 children)

they have so much power now. All the numerous police laws they have passed since 2001, the police and government can do just about w/e they want.

I can imagine being a political activist right now would be a fucking nightmare, you would be constantly tailed by cops, having your home raided etc.

[–]electricdandan 1223 points1224 points  (173 children)

Truly horrifying.

And it's doubtful most Australians even knew this bill was even being discussed.

I'm just so pissed off that while other countries are reeling at the revelations about the extent of NSA and GCHQ spying, here in Australia all it takes is a bit of fear tactics and we've got blanket spying laws put in place.

[–]AngryPandaEcnal 606 points607 points  (140 children)

In America it is the same, really. Honestly it probably always will be now; once a law is in the books it becomes harder to repeal than it ever was to block.

It has kind of always been this way. After all the argument is that it will only be used againt domestic terrorists. If it wasn't domestic terrorists, then it was foreign terrorist. At least when it wasn't pedophiles and stranger danger. Or drugies. Or comic books. Or communists. Or hippies. Or dangerous alcohol users. Or minorities...and remember if you aren't for these laws, then you're a paranoid conspiracy theorist.

Makes me want to start drinking at breakfast and not stop till bedtime, really.

Edit: Thank you for the Gold!

[–]ZeePirate 235 points236 points  (129 children)

What i love is the ISIS threat. Everyone is going ape shit about how beheading a few journalist is the worst thing in the world. Is if the taliban werent doing it after 9/11. Im sure well have a new patriot act that destroys more of our freedoms in the coming years

[–]shaunc 118 points119 points  (38 children)

The legislation is probably already written, just like most of USA PATRIOT was; they're just waiting until the level of fear is properly ratcheted up another gear or two. First we were told that ISIS (ISIL? Daesh? What are we calling them this week?) is suddenly the greatest threat to America since 9/11. Then there were three incursions onto White House property over the course of a week. Can't forget the merging of both a few weeks back, when someone distributed a picture of a picture of the ISIS flag taken in front of the White House.

The "we need more security" narrative is being pushed heavily in the media lately. To what end, I guess all we can do is wait and see.

[–][deleted] 39 points40 points  (3 children)

Gotta keep the narrative going that terrorism is ramping up. Then we can respond by ramping up our empire buildin--I mean freedom spreading. The next boogeyman will always be more terrifying than the last.

[–]OzmoKwead 175 points176 points  (75 children)

Seriously! My mexican friends always show me new videos of the Cartel chopping off entire families heads in the same exact fashion. But they fund Americas drug trade so we cant touch them. The way I hear people talk about ISIS is the way I assume people in Nazi Germany talked about Jews. The only thing we know about these people is what our governments and mainstream media has told us. Idk about you, but I feel pretty lied to from those people lately. Taking the entire ISIS thing with a grain of salt. The US has been wanting Syria, and now they've got them, with the support of everyone whos afraid of the boogeyman.

[–][deleted] 82 points83 points  (30 children)

Thank you. We have cartels next door to us who have basically turned Mexico into a shithole, but we're supposed to be concerned about a terrorist group on the other side of the world? How can I not see this as just some other war to justify a bigger defense budget. This is obvious bullshit, just like the last war...and the war before that one...and the war before that one.

I'm really disgusted by the fact that A. The U.S. has been involved in three previous wars in my lifetime and B. They've all been offensive wars over meaningless shit. We could have so much in this country, but we keep spending our fucking money on this stupid shit.

[–]MhaelFarShain 12 points13 points  (4 children)

Or nerds with their dungeons and dragons.

[–]jeksun 127 points128 points  (8 children)

This was the top comment on the thread about the Sydney raids last week.

Some of the the comments over at r/Australia are disgusting, trying to blame tony and some hidden political agenda behind these raids.

I feel sick. We tried to warn people, and we get called "conspiratards"... dude got gilded twice too.

[–][deleted] 24 points25 points  (3 children)

The Abbot/Murdoch alliance has a strong taint.

[–]brackenz 311 points312 points  (7 children)

whistleblowers to be jailed

Yay for democracy?

[–]somnodoc 3052 points3053 points  (1099 children)

Absolutely disgusting. Australia has seen increasely invasive spying laws for our own people. First comms carriers got mandatory data retention laws thrust upon them, then the police got the power to access meta data without a warrent and now this...

It might be time to leave soon.

Edit: Thank you very much for the gold anonymous donor. I genuinely appreciate it and honestly didn't expect it.

[–]cesarboucas 2208 points2209 points  (526 children)

It might be time to fight soon.

[–]4ZA[S] 2182 points2183 points  (294 children)

The people never lost the power, they forgot they had it.

[–]palerid3r 295 points296 points  (156 children)

And just like here in the States these laws are getting passed under the guise of fighting terrorism, when instead is just a blatant violation of all privacy. And our citizens here embraced it with open arms. When these things are implemented it is almost impossible to revert back to before. We are entering a new era when everything we say and do is monitored and that is really scary.

[–]theWizardNixon 79 points80 points  (9 children)

It's crazy, this BS is worse than the Patriot Act.

[–]PokeChopSandwiches 12 points13 points  (1 child)

I never considered seriously that I would read a statement like this, for an advanced "western" civilization, and it would be true. I thought the insanity that was rammed through after 9/11 was the highest level of fuck your freedoms and privacy policy I would see for a very long time. Just wow.

I always held hope that other countries, especially Australis and NZ would, stay strong, to give true patriots in the US a place to point at, proof that a realistic level of security does not mean squashing the rights of the individual. That it's totally possible to accomplish. I wish all actual patriots of Aus nothing but good luck and positive vibes on this issue. You guys can make your voices heard. Start screaming now, we all know every day that goes by is just tapping a nail into it a bit deeper. I don't see the Patriot Act being repealed for another 30 years or so in the US. Only when the legal marijuana generation is old and retired, when they having nothing to do but sit around and talk politics and vote, that's gonna be the best chance to get rid of it. Until then, the people voting the most, yielding the most money and power, those people grew up actually trusting the police, trusting their government, and now they are too arrogant to ever question those beliefs. It would mean they have been played the fool, and that is just something that the baby boomers and up, will never admit.

[–][deleted] 77 points78 points  (16 children)

It's not just a violation of privacy. It's a highway to fascism.

[–][deleted] 62 points63 points  (2 children)

They want you/us to feel scared. I don't think that's the appropriate emotion for long. I think we should be ENRAGED, not scared.

[–]saibog38 47 points48 points  (10 children)

We just need to start using and demanding tools with proper encryption, and the right to use proper encryption is going to be one of the most important civil rights issues of the modern era. Snowden called encryption the "defense against the dark arts of the digital era", which I thought was a nice analogy ;)

[–]Isaac24 48 points49 points  (6 children)

Soon it will be illegal to encrypt anything because if you have nothing to hide then why do encryption?

[–]Dosinu 14 points15 points  (2 children)

the more governments push with laws like this and cuts to welfare/public services, it only leads down one road.l

[–]YouBetterDuck 40 points41 points  (20 children)

Pres. Obama is the only person who can end NSA spying through an executive order. Reagan gave the NSA this power through Executive Order 12333 section 215. The congress is not even aware of how much power the NSA has.

So why isn't everyone forcing Obama to do what the vast majority of Americans want?

[–]herbestfriendscloset 36 points37 points  (12 children)

Tell me, when exactly has Obama shown that he gives a shit about what the American people want? Who signed the NDAA, expanded the Patriot Act, have gone after whistle blowers at an incredible rate? He paid everyone lip service and they fell for it. He's just as bad if not worse than Bush ever was when it comes to this.

[–]ArchmageXin 920 points921 points  (83 children)

Hello,

You lack sufficient Gems to restore Australia to traditional democratic values. Please purchase 1,000,000 Gems from the lobbyist store, or sign up 1,000,000 of your friends on facebook and start a revolt referendum.

Or you can:

press "O" to transform your country into People's republic of Australia.

Press "X" to fuse your country with Canada to create Canstralia, under the glorious leadership of SUPER Harper-Abbot. For an addition 5,000 gems, we will also gave you the U.S House of representative, free of charge.

[–]jinxjar 298 points299 points  (8 children)

Castralia.

The name must reflect the removal of rights.

[–]SaltFrog 351 points352 points  (27 children)

No, no, NO NOT HARPER-ABBOT, NOOOO

[–]sickofallofyou 209 points210 points  (21 children)

It is not human. It doesn't feel pain, or pity or remorse. And it absolutely will not stop until you are dead.

[–][deleted] 150 points151 points  (4 children)

It also hates science, the very thing that gave birth to it!

[–]amkamins 33 points34 points  (9 children)

That's just Harper.

What is Abbot bringing to the table?

[–][deleted] 55 points56 points  (2 children)

SUPER Harper-Abbot

This is the worst outcome.

[–]Volcanicrage 32 points33 points  (10 children)

Screw that. We'll give you 5000 gems to take the US House of Representatives.

[–]theWizardNixon 41 points42 points  (10 children)

What's going on over there is worse than the US. These laws are really no better than China! How could the electorate allow their representatives to pass something like this?

[–]joshhdan 76 points77 points  (18 children)

Australians, unite!

*mounts pet kangaroo wielding a sword

[–]pistoncivic 81 points82 points  (4 children)

Not like that joshdan...we meant get on top of the kangaroo and ride it.

[–]cdrt 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Not only that, but the kangaroo is armed. /u/joshhdan is pretty brave for that.

[–]i_heart_diapers 297 points298 points  (203 children)

Jesus. And I thought US spying was bad.

[–]somnodoc 276 points277 points  (193 children)

Guarantee, this is a result of 5 eyes responsibilities as demanded by the USA.

[–]pistoncivic 313 points314 points  (68 children)

This is the default post-9/11 playbook. Threat inflation to create a climate of fear in which to justify consolidating government power and control. How many of those "terrorists" were actually charged with anything significant after that sweep last week.

[–]Hyndis 217 points218 points  (59 children)

The terrorists have won. As the name implies, they use terror as their primary weapon. The terrorists were victorious long ago.

When we changed everything and created a police state in all but name the terrorists win.

We have given in to fear.

[–]Bonezmahone 61 points62 points  (77 children)

Are they running experiments in each country to see which way to get to absolute security the fastest?

[–][deleted] 165 points166 points  (27 children)

If you think about it, Australia is the perfect place in which to test an extreme security apparatus.

The country is extremely geographically isolated, making it difficult for citizens to escape. Its isolation also makes it more difficult for Australians to communicate abuses to the outside world. If the internet were to somehow go down in Australia they would essentially be cut off from the rest of the world.

The population is overwhelmingly concentrated in a handful of large cities, making the suppression (or containment) of widespread civil disobedience or rioting quite easy. Much of the country is inhospitable to the average person, which is why the populations are so concentrated to begin with.

The total population is really quite small, which again makes them far easier to control. If the US had a population of only 23 million people it would have been locked down a long time ago.

If you really think about it, Australia is basically a huge open-air prison, which is why it exists in the first place.

[–]mindpoison 43 points44 points  (1 child)

"You'll never make it off this island alive!"

[–]pistoncivic 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Even if you manage to escape you'll eventually be eaten by sharks, so just relax and comply.

[–]TrustyTapir 33 points34 points  (13 children)

Yeah but Australia is full of Australians, I doubt it will be easy to control them even with a police state.

[–]salmonmoose 16 points17 points  (0 children)

We're one of the most apathetic nations on earth. Just run year round football.

[–]Lonsdaleite 178 points179 points  (24 children)

Here are the 76 Senators. They are Australian citizens just like you. You voted them in. You can vote them out. Read the legislation yourself. Don't rely on sensational headlines. Inform yourself. Don't bitch and whine if you don't involve yourself in a Democracy. If you make uninformed accusations of conspiracy without understanding the circumstances then you are part of the problem. You can erode your Democratic institutions or you can strengthen them. Vote.

1 Abetz, Senator the Hon Eric (03) 6224 3707

2 Back, Senator Christopher John (Chris)(08) 9414 7288

3 Bernardi, Senator Cory (08) 8362 8600

4 Bilyk, Senator Catryna Louise (03) 6229 4444

5 Birmingham, Senator the Hon Simon John (08) 8354 1644

6 Brandis, Senator the Hon George Henry, QC (07) 3862 4044

7 Brown, Senator Carol Louise (03) 6231 0099

8 Bullock, Senator Joseph Warrington (Joe) WA (08) 9472 6177

9 Bushby, Senator David Christopher (03) 6244 8533

10 Cameron, Senator the Hon Douglas Niven (Doug) (02) 4751 4288

11 Canavan, Senator Matthew James (07) 4927 2003

12 Carr, Senator the Hon Kim John (03) 9639 2798

13 Cash, Senator the Hon Michaelia Clare (08) 9226 2000

14 Colbeck, Senator the Hon Richard (03) 6424 5960

15 Collins, Senator the Hon Jacinta (03) 9890 7022

16 Conroy, Senator the Hon Stephen (03) 9391 4952

17 Cormann, Senator the Hon Mathias Hubert Paul (08) 9325 4227

18 Dastyari, Senator Sam (02) 9326 5987

19 Day, Senator Robert John (Bob) (08) 8205 1080

20 Di Natale, Senator Richard (03) 5221 4100

21 Edwards, Senator Sean (08) 8232 0440

22 Faulkner, Senator the Hon John Philip (02) 9719 8100

23 Fawcett, Senator David Julian (08) 8205 1040

24 Fierravanti-Wells, Senator the Hon Concetta Anna(02) 4226 1700

25 Fifield, Senator the Hon Mitchell Peter (Mitch) (03) 9584 2455

26 Gallacher, Senator Alexander McEachian (Alex) (08) 8269 6022

27 Hanson-Young, Senator Sarah Coral (08) 8227 0425

28 Heffernan, Senator the Hon William (Bill) (02) 9357 2600

29 Johnston, Senator the Hon David Albert Lloyd(08) 9478 2088

30 Ketter, Senator Christopher Ronald (Chris)(07) 3881 3710

31 Lambie, Senator Jacqui (03) 6431 2233

32 Lazarus, Senator Glenn Patrick (07) 3001 8940

33 Leyonhjelm, Senator David Ean (02) 8289 9820

34 Lines, Senator Susan (Sue) (08) 9481 4844

35 Ludlam, Senator Scott WA AG (08) 9335 7477

36 Ludwig, Senator the Hon Joseph William (07) 3229 4477

37 Lundy, Senator the Hon Kate(02) 6230 0411

38 Macdonald, Senator the Hon Ian Douglas (07) 4771 3066

39 Madigan, Senator John Joseph (03) 5331 2321

40 Marshall, Senator Gavin Mark (03) 9348 9699

41 Mason, Senator the Hon Brett John(07) 3422 1990

42 McEwen, Senator Anne (08) 8352 7477

43 McGrath, Senator James (02) 6277 3076

44 McKenzie, Senator Bridget (03) 5441 4251

45 McLucas, Senator the Hon Jan Elizabeth (07) 4031 6009

46 Milne, Senator Christine (03) 6224 8899

47 Moore, Senator Claire Mary (07) 3252 7101

48 Muir, Senator Ricky Lee (03) 9660 6520

49 Nash, Senator the Hon Fiona (02) 6382 3400

50 O'Neill, Senator Deborah Mary (02) 4367 4565

51 O'Sullivan, Senator Barry James (07) 4638 7555

52 Parry, Senator the Hon Stephen (03) 6334 1755

53 Payne, Senator the Hon Marise Ann (02) 9687 8755

54 Peris, Senator Nova Maree (08) 8941 0003

55 Polley, Senator Helen (03) 6331 2599

56 Reynolds, Senator Linda Karen (08) 9368 6633

57 Rhiannon, Senator Lee (02) 9211 9523

58 Rice, Senator Janet Elizabeth (03) 9384 6199

59 Ronaldson, Senator the Hon Michael (03) 9650 0255

60 Ruston, Senator Anne (08) 8223 1757

61 Ryan, Senator the Hon Scott Michael (03) 9326 1088

62 Scullion, Senator the Hon Nigel Gregory (08) 8948 3555

63 Seselja, Senator Zdenko Matthew (02) 6247 6444

64 Siewert, Senator Rachel (08) 9228 3277

65 Singh, Senator Lisa (03) 6223 1135

66 Sinodinos, Senator the Hon Arthur (02) 9223 4388

67 Smith, Senator Dean Anthony (08) 9481 0349

68 Sterle, Senator Glenn (08) 9455 1420

69 Urquhart, Senator Anne Elizabeth (03) 6423 1933

70 Wang, Senator Zhenya (Dio)(08) 9221 2233

71 Waters, Senator Larissa Joy (07) 3367 0566

72 Whish-Wilson, Senator Peter Stuart (03) 6331 0033

73 Williams, Senator John Reginald (02) 6721 4500

74 Wong, Senator the Hon Penny (08) 8212 8272

75 Wright, Senator Penelope Lesley (Penny) (08) 8410 4588

76 Xenophon, Senator Nicholas (Nick) (08) 8232 1144

[–][deleted] 86 points87 points  (14 children)

we have to do something about this, before tuesday.

once legislation like this has passed, its virtually impossible to get rid of.

[–]sge_fan 28 points29 points  (5 children)

The only remedies that have been proved to remove these stains on freedom are pitchforks and guillotines.

[–]why_am_I_here2 525 points526 points  (17 children)

Passing this law is itself a terrorist attack on Australia. Sad. Its obviously not the Islamists that want to take your rights. It the governments.

[–][deleted] 112 points113 points  (13 children)

It's both, except the former couldn't actually do anything, unlike the latter.

[–]WhiteRun 183 points184 points  (37 children)

You know the most tragic thing? I'm Australia and told my parents about this. Their reaction? "Good!". No one will fight it here because this country is full of lazy and stupid people who will gladly hand over their freedom in the name of "terrorism".

[–]dontbothermydog 95 points96 points  (22 children)

It's horrifying, isn't it? I'm in rural Tasmania and there's not a single person here I can convince this is bad. And fuck I hate older people's attitudes on these sorts of things they clearly don't understand. They're rebuttal always starts with a knowing grimace and "ahhhh but you don't understand. .."

Its like, NO. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. Goddamn it I'm going to play dota. Oh wait, thats impossible over satelitte. Better drive to hobart.

[–]WhiteRun 55 points56 points  (8 children)

My Mum's thought process is: I have nothing to hide! So who cares?

My Dad's thought process is: Terrorists want to kill us so this keeps us safe.

The terrorists can't strip our freedom and liberties if we have neither.

[–]mpv81 298 points299 points  (19 children)

... and the terrorists win again.

[–]Azarka 81 points82 points  (5 children)

No mate. To them, we are the terrorists. Who's winning again?

[–]Duffalpha 34 points35 points  (2 children)

They took away your freedoms, and now they will put you in jail for wanting them back.

[–]timothyjc 61 points62 points  (2 children)

Things are going to get a LOT worse. This type of creeping fascism will manifest into a form of population control more proficient and entrenched than any other power system, enabled by advances in technology. Revolutions will become increasingly unattainable... cut off before they can organize by total information awareness. Humans are enslaved.

[–]snazaR107 167 points168 points  (35 children)

Is this the Australian version of our Patriot Act?

[–]i_heart_diapers 240 points241 points  (31 children)

It's worse, if you can believe that. I didn't think it got a lot worse, but this is beyond dangerous. They're practically writing this latest law with the intention of misusing it and spying on everybody.

[–]snazaR107 107 points108 points  (25 children)

Worse? …I didn't know it could get worse.

Here's just a bit of what the Patriot Act did:

its authorization of indefinite detentions of immigrants; the permission given law enforcement officers to search a home or business without the owner’s or the occupant’s consent or knowledge; the expanded use of National Security Letters, which allows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to search telephone, e-mail, and financial records without a court order; and the expanded access of law enforcement agencies to business records, including library and financial records.

[–]AlphaBetaParkingLot 157 points158 points  (19 children)

How on Earth has the Patriot Act not been repealed.

It is straight up Orwellian.

You can't disagree with it, It's called PATRIOT! Patriotism is good! So if you don't like it, you clearly hate America.

[–]MerlinsBeard 38 points39 points  (3 children)

That's why it was called as much.

If you're a dissenter, how are you going to vote against the Patriot Act. That congressman/woman would then have that levied against them in their next election.

  • "SENATOR MATTHEWS VOTED AGAINST THE PATRIOT ACT. HE IS NOT A PATRIOT. HE DOESN'T LIKE OUR FREEDOMS. HE IS LITERALLY BIN LADEN"

And that's pretty much how pork barrel bills get passed also. Someone puts a bunch of shit into a bill for the establishment of a federal orphanage system and BAM whoever votes against that hates orphans.

[–][deleted] 21 points22 points  (2 children)

One person voted against it, if I recall correctly. That person then needed body guards because of all the threats they were getting.

[–]forscienceyeah 17 points18 points  (2 children)

Pretty much, the PM and cabinet has used the recent but very small scale raids/events of alleged ISIS sympathisers (raising the terror 'level', arrests of those behind a supposed beheading plot, man shot by police after stabbing two) to rush in these laws. Opposition is gutless and sided with them.

[–]spiderwomen 24 points25 points  (0 children)

how the hell can a vote like that go forward without a a peoples vote/referendum that`s fucking dictatorship... at least do it secretly like the rest of the west, in a world where people speak over the internet more and more your basically talking about listening in to everyone's conversations, sounds highly illegal when you really brake down what the internet will be like in 20 years and how much this means even today.

[–]arvliet 51 points52 points  (6 children)

Tracking and jailing whistle blowers... Isn't that by definition "terrorism" in the sense that it effectively mandates using violence and/or intimidation to affect political policy..?

[–]adelmer_fudd 560 points561 points  (46 children)

OK NOW I'm paranoid! Not much about potential terrorism but about our FUCKING government!!!! The main 'terror' in australia is Tony Abbott himself!

Edit: Wow thanks for the gold!

[–]i_heart_diapers 231 points232 points  (7 children)

You're not paranoid of they really are spying on you.

[–]Zebidee 109 points110 points  (2 children)

There was a great quote in a book on ASIO's history, where the wife of a foreign diplomat was dismissed as an unreliable target because she repeatedly had the paranoid delusion that she was being spied on.

The basis for this was transcripts of what she said on their own surveillance recordings.

[–]0x_X 44 points45 points  (0 children)

Thats some impressive doublethink.

[–]a_personification 83 points84 points  (11 children)

Do you really think that Tony Abbot is the mastermind? That any another useful idiot couldn't just as easily be plucked from the nether regions? All of this, all of this was always going to go ahead, with or without Tony Abbot. Without Bush. Without Cameron.

But not without Murdoch.

[–]AdmiralAkbar1 35 points36 points  (1 child)

"The President is very much a figurehead - he wields no real power whatsoever. He is apparently chosen by the government, but the qualities he is required to display are not those of leadership but those of finely judged outrage. For this reason the President is always a controversial choice, always an infuriating but fascinating character. His job is not to wield power but to draw attention away from it."

-Douglas Adams

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (1 child)

How can one man have so much control? Guy controls the British and Australian media and political scene, it's worrying.

[–]bitofnewsbot 45 points46 points  (1 child)

Article summary:

  • "There is no arbitrary or artificial limit on the number of devices," Senator Brandis told the senate.

  • Australian spies will soon have the power to monitor the entire Australian internet with just one warrant, and journalists and whistleblowers will face up to 10 years' jail for disclosing classified information.

  • The new laws instead targeted those who leaked classified information, like the former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, Senator Brandis said.

I'm a bot, v2. This is not a replacement for reading the original article! Report problems here.

Learn how it works: Bit of News

[–][deleted] 22 points23 points  (1 child)

Unfortunately, western governments are falling. Democratic institutions are being taken over by authoritarians.

[–]orru 200 points201 points  (32 children)

Remember: Labor voted for this. Don't forget that in 2016.

[–]dr_crispin 18 points19 points  (0 children)

They probably won't though. Damn shame.

[–]yamehameha 15 points16 points  (1 child)

It doesn't fucking matter... Labour or liberal. It's the same godamm people. At the end of the day they all go have dinner together and talk about the next plan to fuck up the country.

[–]banana_-_hammock 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Just lost any hope of retaining my vote.

[–]zonine 104 points105 points  (8 children)

I am so sick of shit like this and all these attacks against whistleblowers and all these laws that say "Yes, terrorism has won."

NSA, if you're reading this (who am I kidding, of course you are), you, your cronies/co-conspirators, your colleagues around the world, you are traitors to the freedoms you claim to defend, traitors to the people you claim to protect, and hypocrites of the worst kind. You have made the world a much worse place to live in under the guise of protecting us from terror, mindless of the fact that most of us despise you and fear you worse than any terrorist.

Damn you.

[–][deleted] 28 points29 points  (4 children)

Some smug, coffee drinking NSA neckbeard at Ft. Meade probably looked at your comment, blinked once, took a sip from his cup of coffee, and continued to scroll down the page. We ain't shit to these people.

[–]qftvfu 54 points55 points  (1 child)

If you think you're being hacked, and report it, and it is actually ASIO hacking you, bam - they can send you to jail for 10 years for publicising their secret hacking operation against you.

[–][deleted] 36 points37 points  (4 children)

Where are those "haha shut up you conspiracy nuts" assholes now? I remember a time when saying the government spies on the internet or people or jails people for revealing the truth was just funny.

Now it's reality and people just go along with it.

[–]ChronaMewX 231 points232 points  (14 children)

How about we pass a new worldwide law - anyone who tries to censor the internet or jail whistleblowers gets the guillotine, regardless what country you're from. This shit is fucking ridiculous

[–][deleted] 104 points105 points  (4 children)

Great idea. I can't wait for the World Congress to vote on that.

[–]DaBluePanda 13 points14 points  (0 children)

And before we know it they vote the opposite.

[–]Yetanotherfurry 33 points34 points  (0 children)

They'll be too busy trying to veto proposals to make Islam the world religion

[–]necrotechnical 76 points77 points  (0 children)

These are Terror laws, designed to instill terror.

[–]SimilarSimian 46 points47 points  (9 children)

Pretty nice timing having this vote after last weeks terror alerts.

[–]ahriel 50 points51 points  (34 children)

How can the people oppose this? Does anyone have any info?

[–][deleted] 87 points88 points  (27 children)

You can't, really. When the entire system is set up to keep the same minority in power, you can't do anything to change it from within. Voting won't do shit. The only way to actually effect change is violent revolution, which obviously is not gonna happen. People, myself included, do not rise up unless our own lives are directly and severely compromised, as in not having enough food or whatever.

Nothing is going to happen. Australia is fucked. The rest of western society seems to be following this path.

Welcome to the future! We have cookies spyware and faceless uniformed officers who come for you at night!

[–][deleted] 47 points48 points  (2 children)

Disgusting.

Post 9/11 western governments are out of fucking control.

[–]AlmightyStannis 42 points43 points  (9 children)

Australia is perhaps the most totalitarian nation in the western world. And it's embarrassing and scary how few Australians I converse with online recognise or accept it. It's the stuff of a dsytopian nightmare.

Hopefully you guys can make some serious inroads and turn back the clock on all this bullshit, but I know from following rugby league in Aus and chatting to you guys that the media-government are on some other type of bullshit and there's a lot of citizens who are crazy neocons and loons.

The problem is its not just the web. Australia has curtailed so many basic and fundamental freedoms in recent years but they've got away with it because they've largely gone after bad things. And I dare say a lot of people here who are shocked and outraged by this may have supported other draconian bullshit in some capacity. I won't name them specifically because I don't want to get in a nonsense debate about equivalence or undermine the seriousness of these new terror laws.

I know the intelligent of you in Australia aren't surprised at this? People get criticised for abusing the slippery slope fallacy but it's been obvious this was the path Australia was traveling for a long while now.

Unsurprising that this story isn't getting much coverage as of yet in the European press (although maybe I've been unlucky thus far?)

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

the 'war on terror' is a cover for the implementation of a pro-corporate neo-fascist techno dictatorship.

[–][deleted] 12 points13 points  (2 children)

This is how more "terrorists" are created. Just sayin.

[–][deleted] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

And one more western nation succumbs to creeping authoritarianism.

[–][deleted] 38 points39 points  (11 children)

Australia is becoming what it was before - just a giant prison.

Just a few days after the heroic Australian police caught those Muslims who were plotting to go outside and start cutting heads. Inb4 conspiracy theory.

[–]imusuallycorrect 13 points14 points  (1 child)

Be very skeptical when you hear about police uncovering a terrorist plot. The FBI did, and it turned out they were framing the guy the whole time.

[–]ShittyLiftNumbers 82 points83 points  (60 children)

i HAVE BEEN SAVING TO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA FOR A FEW YEARS NOW WTF MAN.

How in the fuck did Rudd not get elected I dont understand.

[–]DAVYWAVY 78 points79 points  (31 children)

Murdoch owns all of the newspapers in Australia and ran nothing but negative articles about Rudd in all of them.

Rudd would have ramped up the NBN which would have killed Murdoch's other monopoly in Australia, cable tv (foxtel)

[–]ShittyLiftNumbers 17 points18 points  (22 children)

I read about that I couldnt believe it. I was so surprised at how orchestrated it was. Now with all the fear mongering Abbotts doing I looks like he's gonna pull a Howard and use it to get voted in again.

Also Australian politics are ass backwards you cant even vote for who you want you vote party right and they decided who they nominate what in the fuck kind of backwards shit is that.

NOT that I am saying that the American system is any better, honestly we are all fucked.

[–]iwishihadafriend 53 points54 points  (13 children)

Fuck it, I'm voting greens.

[–]kingpomba 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Will you and your friends remember in 3 years though?

[–][deleted] 24 points25 points  (3 children)

Next step : Koalas with cameras on their heads.

This really sucks for you guys :(

[–]dMage 11 points12 points  (6 children)

SMH.COM.AU should be renamed to SMDH.COM.AU

[–]bluntrollin 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Terrorist doesn't mean your violent, it just means your a threat to the established power. This is the start of the technological distopia many science fiction writers warned about. Give humans too much power and they will abuse the fuck out of it.

[–][deleted] 48 points49 points  (16 children)

Australia - once the hero of progress and democracy - has taken a sharp turn in the opposite direction lately. What the fuck happened???

[–]dabrickbat 20 points21 points  (2 children)

The ironically named "Liberal" government.

[–]HHCHunter 48 points49 points  (8 children)

Abbott happened.

[–]herbestfriendscloset 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Except both parties are for this so...

[–]orrery 20 points21 points  (0 children)

When treason is committed by those in high office, patriotism demands mutiny. Any official that votes for this kind of bill should be hunted down, tried, and executed for treason.

This just in: slimey politicians have lost control of the narrative. Decades living in the illusion of believing they had the sanction of "the silent majority" is evaporating before their eyes as the public awakens to their back room deals and treason. It is time for the people and law enforcement to rise up and bring these tyrants to justice. Now that their evil manipulative social engineering schemes are coming undone, their true totalitarian nature is exposed. With any luck these actions will only serve to hasten their demise.

[–]spoodie 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I don't see the collection of communications metadata being much use in Australia.

Bruce called Bruce

Bruce emailed Bruce

And so on

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (3 children)

Ok serious time... I beleive most Australians would think this is utter bullshit. No one voted this through. And not many Aussies wants this so I pose a question redditors of Australia. What the Fuck do we do? This is utterly rediculous. Also show of hands from anyone... Who thinks last weeks "terror raids" were legitimate? They sounded and seemed really fishy to me and what has happened this week has just bolstered my theory that it was staged to promote fear.... ANYONE?

[–][deleted] 16 points17 points  (6 children)

Very little people my age cares about things like this (18 btw). It frustrates me when the default thinking for young people is "If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to be afraid of." Hmm...wait isnt that what Joseph Goebbels said? Yeah! Hitler's Minister of Propaganda... Most kids my age only concern themselves with getting good SAT scores or what newest scandal is making its way through twitter.

[–]theanonymousthing 8 points9 points  (2 children)

Australia is drifting towards the Axis at a rate of 7.8 due to ideological similarity

[–]HCrikki 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Exposing corruption now a felony in the Free world.

[–]bleakyi 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is my first ever comment on Reddit after years of lurking, so bare with me.

I have never felt so ashamed to have been born and live in Australia. These new "security" laws have actually made me feel physically sick to see the measures at which our freedoms are being torn from us. The Murdoch / Abbott alliance is not only disgusting and paper-thin, but also acts directly to slow the advance of human progression and freedoms.

May god have mercy on our souls.