Two replies to Australia considers deleting info from gv't websites [fs]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Politech] Australian state considers deleting info from 
gv't 	websites [fs]
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 17:24:32 +1000
From: Roger Clarke <Roger.Clarke () xamax com au>
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
CC: Red Wolf <redwolf () redwolf com au>
References: <408F2E93.6070508 () well com>


Although I very much share Red Wolf's concerns about the Australian
Govt, and to an only slightly lesser extent the NSW Govt, the
sentence attributed to the Premier (Bob Carr) isn't actually all that
bad:

> "If there is any way we can meet our counter terrorism demands and
> objectives by tightening up, without infringing on the right of the
> public to know and the efficiency that comes with that, then we'll look
> at it," he said.

In another report, in The Canberra Times of Sunday 25 April 2004:

"NSW Police Minister John Watkins said a review of access to such
information would be undertaken.  But balancing the right to the
information with security would be difficult".

Again, on face value, that's not an unreasonable statement.  (And all
the more significant because NSW Police Ministers have always been of
the extremist law-and-order style, and seldom say reasonable things).

--
Roger Clarke              http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke () xamax com au            http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program, University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Baker Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre, U.N.S.W
Visiting Fellow in Computer Science, Australian National University




-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: [Politech] Australian state considers deleting info from 
gv't	websites [fs]
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 16:12:44 +1000
From: Stephen Dawson <scdawson () hifi-writer com>
Reply-To: <scdawson () hifi-writer com>
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>

Declan

Some background for those non-Australian readers who may be misled by Red
Wolf's contribution:

> Never mind that the supposed terrorism target is just another propaganda
> campaign from the PM to scare people into voting for him, just like his
> dodgy 'children overboard' scandal last time around and that the
> information is freely available at any library.
>
> <snipped>
>
> The New South Wales Cabinet committee on counter terrorism will today
> consider restricting the range of information available on government
> websites.
>
> <snipped>
>
> Premier Bob Carr says the committee ...

The PM (John Howard) is facing election later this year. He is head of the
Australian Federal Government, and leader of the Liberal Party
(conservative). Premier Carr is head of the New South Wales state
government, and leader in that state of Australian Labor Party (relatively
left).

So the supposed would-be terrorist was arrested by the Feds, the opposition
party State leader wants to take (probably useless) action. Doesn't seem too
much like some election conspiracy.

Stephen Dawson
Writer
Home Entertainment and Technology
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GILMORE   ACT   2905
AUSTRALIA
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E:   scdawson () hifi-writer com
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