Two of the scariest words in the English language
I recently attended a public seminar offering practical advice and information for the creators of content. Defamation and Sedition Laws “A New Way of Talking?”
The standout speaker was Julian Burnside QC. He spoke eloquently, clearly and economically about the changes to basic rights we as Australians naively believed were somehow enshrined. Rights such as knowing what you are being charged with. Within the new legislation the only words permitted for utterance, by a detained person, when making a phone call are “I’m safe.”
I was left chilled by the lack of resistance to this legislation. Just how easy was it for Ruddock and HoWARd to push this through.
We are not safe from our government. We are also not being served by an opposition to the government.
Update: The ABC’s Media report recorded on the night and played it today (13 April). Audio download available here.
L-R Professor Jill McKeough, Raena Lea-Shannon, David Marr, The Hon. Bob Debus MP, Kate Gilchrist, David Levine QC RFD
Listening to questions from the floor
Julian Burnside QC
The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP
April 12th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
People should get very angry about this! WHY don’t we have a proper opposition in parliament?
April 12th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Because the Opposition don’t actually disagree with this legislation. I emailed Nicola Roxon repeatedly before the legislation was passed and it was obvious that not only was the ALP not going to take a stand against it – they agreed with it – barring some fiddling around the edges. The ALP love wedge politics as much the Liberals – they just aren’t as good at it as the Government.
April 13th, 2006 at 11:04 am
We do have an oppisition, they’re called The Greens. Ultimately, parties of government have convergant interests when it comes to the powers of the state. In the US, the democrats didn’t oppose the various “Patriot” Acts, in Britain the Conservatives didn’t oppose Blair’s various police powers.
One day they’ll be in government again, and they will have such fun!
April 13th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
So if you kidnap someone and get them to phone home and say only ‘I’m safe’ no-one would start looking for them for a fortnight because they assume that they are in custody??
April 13th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
Lee, good point- absolutely nothing about the words “I’m safe” can ever have the same meaning again.
Julian Burnside suggested we all wear “I’m safe” badges in an effort to highlight the profound danger that those two words convey within the context of this law.
April 14th, 2006 at 1:04 am
Sadly – whilst both a Greens voter and a member of the party – I fear we won’t actually represent a majority or a true Opposition in the next election.
April 14th, 2006 at 9:26 am
kartar I fear you are right.
With legislation such as this I sense that most people are disinterested and rationalise their apathy by believing that the legislation won’t affect them or anyone they know.
We really do buy into the “she’ll be right” casualness- at our peril.
April 14th, 2006 at 11:13 am
I am reminded of Martin Niemöller’s famous quote – “When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out…”
April 18th, 2006 at 10:57 am
How about “I’m Safe” T shirts?
April 19th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Helen – that’s a good idea – might suggest that to the local greens. Maybe with a quote from the relevant section of the legislation on the back of it…
April 25th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
“only words permitted for utterance, by a detained person, when making a phone call are “I’m safe.” ” … which would not actually be correct.
April 26th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
Yes.
It was a long, long time after the lecture Brownie, that I started to shake free of the disbelief and anger that I felt when I heard of these legally sanctioned extreme measures.
May 15th, 2006 at 10:39 am
[…] Quite a number of people in the US and Australia work with the famous faulty notion that “…if I’m not doing anything ‘wrong’, I shouldn’t worry…” about government invasions of privacy on false pretenses. It’s all well and good until law enforcement makes an irreversible error or a government decides to persecute people for their political beliefs. Remember, if you’re arrested in Australia on a terrorism related offence, all you can tell one member of your family is “I’m safe,” when absolutely nothing could be further from the truth. Australia in desperate need of a Bill of Rights. […]