On the bright side:

1) Back Door Man is available at

http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/10296/20010907/www.dot.net.au/_galconv/back%20door%20man.mp3

courtesy of your friendly Australian Government.

Doom and Gloom much?

Freedom of speech has little to do with laws, and everything to do with what people are prepared to do to claim their own freedoms.

2) Sedition - for a far more optimistic take on sedition laws, see

http://www.lastsuperpower.net/disc/members/344535725451

by people who were heavily involved in the Vietnam protests in the 1960s and openly supported the victory of the Viet Cong/North Vietnamese. Sedition/treason laws were never used against them, despite the fact that they were clearly and directly advocating the victory of a declared enemy of the Australian government.

You'll also find people there who were involved in the 1996 'Neither!' campaign, which rejected both major parties, and advocated a "1,2,3,3" vote that would deny them preferences. More detail about that time can be found here: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/CIB/1995-96/96cib14.htm

David Jackmanson
http://www.letstakeover.blogspot.com

What is the pseudo-left?
http://www.lastsuperpower.net/disc/members/568578247191

I totally agree with Henry. We do not have freedom of speech in Australia, more so, since Howard took the reins of power.
The independant public broadcaster ABC, denies any personal comment, or having a personal view by its staff, when communicating with the public, particularly to do with any criticsm of the Howard government's policies or its not acting in the interests of the people.
The ABC has been punished severely over the term of this government, financially and by verbal tongue lashing.
By punishing the ABC, Howard has also punished the Australian people, by denying them the quality of service to which they have become accoustomed.
Australians own cultural interests have been torpedoed, by the actions of a government intent on erasing truth from our speech and language

Dear George,

Your paper comprehensively failed to identfy the most significant challenges to freedom of speech in Australia:

1. draconian defamation laws that reinforce the power of politicians and talkback 'personalities' (such as Alan Jones and John Laws, who seem to be regular users of such writs)

2. proposed changes to cross-mdeia ownership laws that may serve to further concentrate mass-published opinion (and, consequently, mass opinion).

Your paper also comprehensively failed to recognise the principal defect in your statutory Bill of Rights proposal: a statutory Bill of Rights can be amended.

People of Australia, George Williams and other people who support a statutory Bill of Rights are selling you a lemon! It is far less than we deserve! Human rights are not and should not be a matter of grace and favour of governments.

Yours, The Skeptic

When you have right wing religious bigots running the country, what else can you expect. We're now a religious dictatorship, with our countries soldiers being sent to fight religious wars around the world, what's different to the crusades or any other god inflamed situation.

Look at how many articles are being put on this site from the religious right and how they've flooded it with their macabre and despotic statements. It won't be long before these forums will be censored to fit with the messages the religious fascists demand. But that's god for you.

I still believe that I have the right in Austalia to call George Williams a ratbag.

Anyone who swallows the nonsense he preaches - particularly about a bill of rights - while perhaps not being ratbags like George, are certainly gullible and not fit to be away from their mothers if they believe Australia is as bad as they like to think

George Williams writes:
"When it comes to freedom of speech we are in danger of losing our sense of perspective, as well as our sense of humour."

Is thats so.
Well George you could have a few drinks and then write like Mel Gibson speaks.
See how other people's sense of humour is regarding your sense of humour in speaking freely.