Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

digitalrightswatch.org.au

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 894 posts

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#91

Post by _-david-_ »

SilverRed wrote: post #72
_-david-_ wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seeing how this law was passed, maybe you should rethink your theory that you will get less extremist politics.

It's not extremist politics. There was no TV marketing about how x group is the devil and they need this law to stop it. The government just passed quickly without much publicity. The average Australian is not radicalized like Americans are and they generally do not hate peoples existence based on how they vote / make their vote their identify. There is no such thing as "a group of liberal supporters protesting" like…

The Australians voted for these parties who then pass this policy. This policy is extreme. That sure seems like extremist politics to me.

I don't get why you are talking about the US. This policy was passed by Australia. I am not saying that non mandatory voting will avoid extremist politics. All I am saying is that mandatory voting is not a silver bullet to avoiding extremism.

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#92

Post by worik »

vncecartersknee wrote: post #83
King-Aaron wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is exactly my feeling. Aussies are constantly whinging about extreme first-world problems and are completely apathetic (or willfully ignorant) of what real hardship is. As a result the general population is blindly letting the government erode our rights and are too pre-occupied with their own lives to actually realise what's happening.

"blindly letting the government erode our rights" what else are we supposed to do? how do you stop the government from doing that?

Vote.

Protest - particularly direct action

Challenge them

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#93

Post by bradrn »

mdoms wrote: post #63
neither_color wrote: post #9

We can refer to both now as acts because — in what is an increasing trend in the Australian Parliament — the bills flew through both houses in a single day. Why is this an increasing trend? Voting is mandatory…so are voters more trusting of their institutions or just apathetic? Voting is compulsory at federal elections, by-elections and referendums for those on the electoral roll, as well as for State and Territory e…

When it comes to authoritarianism Australians are either extremely apathetic or they are generally in favour of more government intervention in private life. Try having a calm and balanced discussion with an Australian about bicycle helmet laws for a wonderful example.

> Try having a calm and balanced discussion with an Australian about bicycle helmet laws for a wonderful example.

As an Australian I’d be curious to know what the argument against them is? (Keeping in mind that most Australians don’t see ‘freedom’ as a terminal goal.)

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#94

Post by dtn »

[deleted] wrote: post #77
jakequade wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please fuck off with anti-covid-vax rhetoric (even if tongue-in-cheek). There's enough bullshit being spun as it is.

[deleted]

The problem is that this legislation wasn't introduced to deal with COVID.

The intense international focus on our public health restrictions is a huge distraction, and undermines the message we want to send regarding authoritarianism.

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#95

Post by [deleted] »

dragonwriter wrote: post #68
dalyons wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an Australian living in America for 10 years you absolutely nailed it; compulsory voting effectively prevents what is the worst part of American democracy - the unceasing efforts to stop people voting . Plenty of other bs, but at least the right to participate is guaranteed.

> compulsory voting effectively prevents what is the worst part of American democracy - the unceasing efforts to stop people voting No, it doesn't; sloppy, deliberately overbroad purges of voter rolls (without notification of the targets) are a key voter suppression technique, and are not at all impaired by compulsory voting.

[deleted]

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#96

Post by dalyons »

dragonwriter wrote: post #68
dalyons wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an Australian living in America for 10 years you absolutely nailed it; compulsory voting effectively prevents what is the worst part of American democracy - the unceasing efforts to stop people voting . Plenty of other bs, but at least the right to participate is guaranteed.

> compulsory voting effectively prevents what is the worst part of American democracy - the unceasing efforts to stop people voting No, it doesn't; sloppy, deliberately overbroad purges of voter rolls (without notification of the targets) are a key voter suppression technique, and are not at all impaired by compulsory voting.

Are you Australian? I’m asking because I’m not aware of of that(very American) tactic being employed in Australia. Imho the requirement of voting moves the window of what’s acceptable in terms of voter rolls - I can’t think of one time I’ve heard of purging being employed inappropriately in aus. And I can’t really imagine a party getting away with it.

I could of course just be blissfully unaware, and it actually occurs all the time.

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#97

Post by mrkstu »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #84
wrycoder wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are saying the Republican Party has spent decades trying to stop black people from voting, that is simply incorrect. It is what the other party’s propaganda would like you to believe. Same with voter suppression.

Southern conservative as Democrats or Republicans like Jesse Helms and Trent Lott were very much in favor of not letting African Americans vote. Who they caucused with later is unrelated. But yes, to say it was Democrats or Republicans would be very technically inaccurate. It isn’t a coincidence that the states that were practicing Jim Crow before are the same states trying to discourage voting today.

What is the reality on the ground though?

For instance:

"Texas ranks number 10 overall when it comes to engagement among African American voters, including being first overall in proportional representation of blacks in state legislature and national party conventions."

https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/african-americans-in-texas-...

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#98

Post by 6nf »

King-Aaron wrote: post #47
siquick wrote: post #37

I've lived in Australia for 10 years and really considering my familys future in this country. We are sleep-walking towards a very average future. An undiversified export economy, out of control house prices, a job-market primarily focused on two cities, a government intent on selling all public assets, very limited political interest in positive climate policies. The latter is simply addressed with "technology will…

After 34 years of being an Australian, the feeling is mutual.

20 years in Sydney. I do not feel Australian any more.

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#99

Post by daenz »

bingohbangoh wrote: post #44

It’s cool though, this time they’ll finally get rid of COVID. All snark aside, I ask what I’ve asked everybody: at what point is the cure not worth it anymore?

It's snark but it's relevant. All of this shit has been pushed through during a climate where people are willing to let the government get away with a little more to help fight covid. And look what they're ramming through.

Re: Australia’s new mass surveillance mandate

#100

Post by mc32 »

worik wrote: post #92
vncecartersknee wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"blindly letting the government erode our rights" what else are we supposed to do? how do you stop the government from doing that?

Vote. Protest - particularly direct action Challenge them

In Australia people are compelled to vote, so the problem looks like the majority having a different take. Not that I agree with their votes, but you can’t say they don’t vote.

Ultimately what is one supposed to do in a democracy (never mind Australia for a moment) when you’re just not part of the majority opinion on something?

Post reply on HN