Apparently, I am, or at least I will be, seditious.

It didn't occur to me until John Quiggin linked to an op-ed in The Age on the Federal Governments amendments to the Crimes Act , that I am a filthy seditionist.

Somebody lock me up for five years quick, because I've urged disaffection against the Government , twice , I've urged disaffection with the Constitution , and I'm certainly not overbriming with respect for our sovereign, Her Majesty the Queen of Australia.

The Sydney Morning Herald latest polling on the legislation tells us that 75% of Australians approve of the legislation in general, but 60% disapprove of shoot-to-kill rights. I wonder how those numbers might change if people realised that espousing the opinion that politicians are a pack of ratbags, or liars, or greedy pigs at the trough is arguably a federal offence punishable with up to 5 years in jail. How about if they knew that when A Current Affair journalists bail up politicians with that hoary old chestnut of pay and perks, that technically they will be breaking the law. I know, let's make all those people who say they distrust lawyers, used-car salesmen and pollies, let's make criminals pf this entire class of Australian citizens. What a splendid idea.
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Cam Riley: South Sea Republic. Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic.

Comments
  • cam . # .
    Guido had an interesting comment on it: at \"Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005\" ;

    Now in my opinion \'sedition\' is an antiquated concept that should be rattled off in the outdated legislation such as witch burning and illegal homosexuality, but it is there in the legislation.

    I agree with him.

    cam
  • avocadia . # .
    John Howard a seditionist?:

    John Howard was doing an interview of some kind, and in response to a query over whether the constitution could support a federal takeover of IR, he made some comment along the lines of the consitution being written a hundred years ago and that times are different now.

    I knew I should have remarked on it when I first read it, because now I can\'t find it. I\'ve been wracking google for an hour now and no luck at all.

    Now, I think that you could make an interesting case that Mr Howard was disparaging the Consitution. You know. Urging disaffection with the Constitution.
  • cam . # .
    He wants to dissolve the states: From here ;

    \"If we were starting Australia all over again, I wouldn\'t support having the existing state structure,\" he said. \"I would actually support having a national government, and perhaps a series of regional governments having the power of, say, the Brisbane City Council (Australia\'s most powerful local government).

    But that doesnt make him unusual, all the political parties at the federal level want to.

    cam