So much for Australia's constitution

[brick]

http://www.brisbanet...0509-1ycw9.html

[The Hash Nibbler]

LMAO.....Classic Brick, pay me government bills in pieces of 8 now........Arrrrrrrrrr..... . Peace. Nibbler.

[brick]

Yeah! be interesting to see just how flawed the constitution is, thats why we need to become a republic and get a new one.

[Cerberus]

Nice one Brick

 

On a related note, If anyone can find anything relating to our supposed freedom of speech in our constitution, I'd be interested to see it 'cos I couldn't find it. I think it's just a right that we have however it's not something that is guaranteed like the US. We're just lucky I suppose

[brick]

Australia

See also: Censorship in Australia

Australia does not have explicit freedom of speech in any constitutional or statutory declaration of rights, with the exception of political speech which is protected from criminal prosecution at common law per Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v Commonwealth.

In 1992 the High Court of Australia judged in the case of Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v Commonwealth that the Australian Constitution, by providing for a system of representative and responsible government, implied the protection of political communication as an essential element of that system. This freedom of political communication is not a broad freedom of speech as in other countries, but rather a freedom whose purpose is only to protect political free speech. This freedom of political free speech is a shield against government prosecution, not a shield against private prosecution (civil law). It is also less a causal mechanism in itself, rather than simply a boundary which can be adjudged to be breached. Despite the court's ruling, however, not all political speech appears to be protected in Australia and several laws criminalise forms of speech that would be protected in other democratic countries such as the United States.

In 1996, Albert Langer was imprisoned for advocating that voters fill out their ballot papers in a way that was invalid.[6] Amnesty International declared Langer to be a prisoner of conscience.[7] The section which outlawed Langer from encouraging people to vote this way has since been repealed and the law now says only that it is an offence to print or publish material which may deceive or mislead a voter.

The Howard Government re-introduced sedition law, which criminalises some forms of expression. Media Watch ran a series on the amendments on ABC television.[8]

In 2006, CSIRO senior scientist Graeme Pearman was reprimanded and encouraged to resign after he spoke out on global warming.[9] The Howard Government was accused of limiting the speech of Pearman and other scientists.

[Darth Cannabis]

free speach is a joke, they just keep us sedate enough to not care that we cant speak out about many things without social and yes, political persecusion. Dont believe me? I dare you to walk around saying saying pro-Alkaida sentiments...

 

OT: wow, i admire that guys guts, kind of backfired though, now he has to pay an extra $3500! :S

[brick]

he appears to me to be the type of bloke that would spend time in jail rather than pay. more power to him.

[Allotropy]

free speach is a joke, they just keep us sedate enough to not care that we cant speak out about many things without social and yes, political persecusion. Dont believe me? I dare you to walk around saying saying pro-Alkaida sentiments...

 

OT: wow, i admire that guys guts, kind of backfired though, now he has to pay an extra $3500! :S

 

 

[Anakha]

Poor bugger might be chased for some other money now too.....back taxes etc...

[louise]

The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act is essentially an economic document that divides up state and federal rights/responsibilities.

 

Section 115. States not to coin money.

A State shall not coin money, nor make anything but gold and silver coin a legal tender in payment of debts.

 

Let's break it down... there are 3 aspects to the statement that accompanies sect 115.

 

1. A State shall not coin money -

 

-States can't mint or print their own money

-Currency is the responsibility of the federal government

 

2. nor make anything [...] a legal tender in payment of debts.

 

-Effectively States can't barter... they can't accept wheat, wool, timber, or any other good in lieu of currency to recover debts.

 

3. nor make anything but gold and silver coin a legal tender in payment of debts.

 

-Apart from actual gold and silver coins, a State cannot accept anything else but federal currency for payment of debts.

 

 

 

So, the individual States can't make their own currency, or barter for debts, but if you want to pay your rates in Spanish doubloons, the State has the right under the constitution to accept your gold and silver coins in lieu of Australian dollars.

 

I suppose it all depends on how you read the Act.