Mark Dreyfus, Attorney-General and barrister, has blossomed since becoming an MP…but unfortunately in sophistry rather than by exhibiting a deeper commitment to principle. Simon Kringas blows the whistle on him…
AG’s stance is ludicrous
By Simon Kringas*
Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus claims Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden are not whistleblowers: “Where an activity has been authorised under law and overseen by appropriate government bodies and where no wrongdoing has been identified, the disclosure of information is not whistleblowing.”
Manning revealed the US government was torturing prisoners, killing civilians and journalists, and that Hillary Clinton ordered diplomats to collect credit card details and DNA from UN chief Ban Ki-moon. Snowden revealed the US government was secretly collecting and storing the private emails and phone calls of its citizens in breach of its constitution and while lying to Congress.
To suggest this conduct is appropriate for a democratic government and not wrongdoing is ludicrous.
The Australian government has also been implicated in secret mass spying. While pleading that such draconian invasions of privacy are essential to ”fight terrorism”, the data is supplied to the Tax Office. The Attorney-General’s department has drafted sneaky new laws, such as the Telecommunications Interception Act, giving power to authorise spying to politicians, avoiding judicial oversight.
So-called ”whistleblower protection” legislation is more about damage control for the government than protecting those who expose its corruption.
Most democracies have a bill of rights articulating the fundamental rights of citizens, and to which their governments are held accountable. Despite Australia priding itself as a nation of freedom, this vital document remains conspicuously absent.
Without it, a continuing slide into the dystopia of government autocracy seems inevitable.
Simon Kringas is a member of CLA. This item first appeared in the Canberra Times letters pages in August 2013.
“Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus claims Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden are not whistleblowers: “Where an activity has been authorised under law and overseen by appropriate government bodies and where no wrongdoing has been identified, the disclosure of information is not whistleblowing.””
LOLWOT? It’s hardly lawful if the officials are violating a little something called The Constitution of the United States of America:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”