How important IS freedom of speech in Australian society, and is the Howard goverment eroding away at the democratic right of Australians with IR reform and other laws that have recently been put in place .

Freedom of speech is VERY important.

Internet forums such as OLO are thus of great importance, because they provide the opportunity for people to freely express their views – an opportunity that hasn’t really existed with letters to the editor, talk-back radio or any other medium.

However, I absolutely detest the fact that for myself and for many others, we still cannot present our comments under our own names and must use a pseudonym, for the fear of ‘offending’ our employers.

I don’t know if IR reforms and other laws are eroding our freedom of speech. It seems to me that it has always been highly compromised.

Well without freedom of speech we become Korea or China or Afghanistan..

The right to freedom of speech is paramount to our existence in society as individuals who have a voice and speak out when we feel our needs are not being served by corrupt governments who can and will oppress us if we allow it..the nature of the beast is to destroy the will of the pple so that their power base becomes unopposable.

Media diversity laws are supposed to ensure that we have fair representation in our society of a broad range of societal issues from as many diverse sources as we can.

This is supposed to impart a fair and balanced stream of information and content derived from a different sources.Not that our socalled media laws are all that fair and impartial especially when governments buy their way back into election winning positions using the power of media.

What a pity this thread hasn’t developed. It is very surprising to me that lots of people haven’t jumped at the chance to express their gripes about restrictions to their freedom of speech. I would have thought that this sort of thing would be of great interest to OLO respondents.

Strange indeed.

Freedom of speech is of fundamental importance. And discussion on this topic is very badly needed. So OZGIRL let’s see if we can revive this thread.

Could you please tell us what you think about the erosion of our freedom of speech by “IR reform and other laws that have recently been put in place”.

Thanks

Ludwig L

Yep..I'm one for whom this subject kind of slipped behind the radar.

It is a very important topic !

I am definitely 'culturally' more oriented to the Coalition, but not 'economically'. I much prefer a sensible mix of social/free enterprise approach. (centrist).

I worry when I hear these proposals for media law change. Not so much about the IR stuff because as long as the media is open, a variety of views can be expressed.

The IR laws seem to be a reaction (some might say over-reaction) to abuse by powerful 'take no prisoners/slash and burn' abuse by some Unions. The ETU and Dean Mighal come to mind.

But in short.. freedom of speech is CRUCIAL to a free society.
How I appreciate OLO !