Anyone here planning to comment on the poll in South Australia?

If you are, be aware of there is a new law on the books. It requires internet bloggers, and anyone making a comment on next month's state election, to publish their real name and postcode when commenting on the poll. It appears to apply to election comment made on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and on comments to Newpaper articles, and here I presume.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26665381-5006301,00.html

PS: I think this proves the current mob of pollies running SA are a bunch of twats. If you live in SA, don't vote for them.

It's crazy. Have been reading, and tweeting, about it.

Why do you need to make it a law?. Only one reason I can think of and that's being in fear of expressing your beliefs

I agree. This seems ridiculous.

The only justification I can see to do this is to prevent political parties falsely posting opinions without declaring their affiliations. And I don't think that's a good enough reason or the real reason.

I think the SA govt is about 40 years behind the times on these type of measures. Let's hope they get rid of it, or it might be a very one sided election.

Signed: Mike Rann - post code: 5000

It's a real worry. Obviously we can't trust either major party anymore.

One of the great attractions of the internet has been the absolute freedom of expression and it's the only medium in which we really have that - a terrible loss if they start clamping down on it.

burbs: "Signed: Mike Rann - post code: 5000"

See the last like of the first post? It reads:

"I think this proves the current mob of pollies running SA are a bunch of twats. If you live in SA, don't vote for them."

Despite appearances, I didn't put it there to broadcast my indignation at the SA pollies. I prefer to let news speak for itself.

It is there as a public test of OLO's editorial policy. Not for me - I have a fair idea of what it is. It is there for others who might want to respond, but don't want to reveal their identity and are worried about what OLO might think them contravening the law on this forum.

Clearly, my opening post contains is a comment on the SA election, and obviously I didn't give my name or postcode. Yet OLO choose to publish it regardless.

Oh, and burbs, if you are going to use Mike Rann's name and postcode, for future reference his postcode is 5067. He lives in Norwood, SA.

I am not from south Australia.
I am an active member of the ALP.
And a supporter of Wrann.
He has over reacted, is wrong, but will be re elected.
I came to this thread minutes after reading the story about spam and fraud haunting social network pages.
I fear it may be phishing.
OK not so but we have talked about online privacy many times, seen it invaded as a result of unwise actions even here.
I beg, yes do, people not to be silly, keep your self and family safe, as time pases more and more will Be needlessly harmed by not obeying simple rules.
Mr Wrann, yes you fear more prominent people putting rubbish out there but you must understand you have acted poorly here, in my view as badly as recent history shows some did in your state.

Good to see rstuart that you are finally waking up.Pollies hate the internet since we now are getting independant info that our traditional media outlets refuse to air or print.

We live in what is known as an oligarchy.Both the major parties pander to the needs and dersires of a corporate ruling class.

VOTE 1 GREEN

or otherwise other than affiliates of the red or the blue.

Dreamon,does the Green movement here accept Corporate donations? I know internationally the corps donate heavily to the Greens.

You see the Corps want the Carbon taxes and derivatives to further expand their power base in the form of a New World Order.This was revealed by Monckton at Copenhagen.It has nothing to do with saving the planet but all about power.The UN socialists fell for it.None of them believe in free markets.The Corps like the taxes affored by socialism since they get the benefits of over utilised medicine,chemicals in our food,services,weapons for war etc

Daid Rockerfller once said,"Competition is a sin." Competition is only for workers and small business.We have no real competion in energy supplies or here in our food supplies.Aust has the highest accelerating food prices in the West,since we virtually have no competition.

We also have the highest house prices since Govt taxes etc account for 37% of a house land package to pay for the interest on the money we borrow from the international banking system to keep our system going.

to All,
These posts prove my point exactly. The kingdom of God is not which church you attend but how you think for how we think runs our life. Belly I don't give a rats what you think for that is your God given right of free will. Put very simply Jesus came to set the captives free and he who the Son sets free is free indeed. The devil came to rob, kill, and destroy. Everyone of us has the mindset of good and evil and it KILLS. Only the mindset of life gives LIFE. Very few pollies know the truth they only have learned behaviour from those they chose to follow. Have a think which kingdom is in operation with rstuart's post for I am positive it is not about freedom. The devil doesn't care how you think and he knows the word of God and as Jesus never argued with him neither should we. If more people said no he gets the message.
Richie10

At ease, soldiers:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/victory-atkinson-loosens-gag/story-e6frea6u-1225826104175

Atkinson's a tosser and he'll be tossed out at the election, I suspect.

pardon my ignorance of SA politics
BUT
there may be good reasons to get some ones post code and correct name.

First a local post code will mean that you have a local interest and are effected by decisions made at local state level.

Again correct name and post code allows those reading the submissions to respond and also to collect or amass local opinion as this may differ from national opinion on any particular subject.

Not all requests for identification are malicious.

Why would you say something and then try to be anonymous or claim to be someone you are not.

IF you have anything to say EVER about anything do not be shy, say it proud and loud.

AND if you are ashamed of what you are saying perhaps you should keep your mouth closed or your keyboard silent.

beefyboy:"Why would you say something and then try to be anonymous or claim to be someone you are not."

Why don't you tell us, "beefyboy"?

Anonymous comment has been around as long as people have held public meetings. They allow people to express dissent without risking personal consequences due to the powers-that-be objecting. Once upon a time, when soapbox oratory was a skill required by every aspiring politician, anonymous heckling was regarded as an opportunity to make a point, both by the politician and the heckler.

Without the possibility of consequence-free comment, we have nothing more than totalitarianism.

Belly, you wrote 'Mr Wrann' 'you must understand you have acted poorly here'

How do feel about Mr Wrudd's planned censorship of the internet? I beg, yes do, Belly, that you view Wrudd's plans to be as wwrong as Wrann's.

Me, I do, yes so I do.

Antiseptic: <"beefyboy:"Why would you say something and then try to be anonymous or claim to be someone you are not."

Why don't you tell us, "beefyboy"?">

Rofl!

Good catch!

Woulfe.Michael Atkinson moved immediately to repeal the proposed leglislation however this is the oligarchy testing the water.They are seeing how far they can go.What they do is submit something totally outrageous then offer lesser restriction of free speech and we feel relieved.

It is done by increments and like the beaker frog,we hardly notice the change until one day we are total slaves.Realise this,we do not have true free competitive markets.There are too many Corporate Cartels and too much Govt taxes and interference.

Many of our taxes end up in Corp Coffers.It is an insidious,symbotic relationship that enslaves the masses.

Peter Grimley. 4660.
Since 'Peter' is such a useless name (too dam many of the basturds) my mother called me...