back to article Brandis' infrastructure security bill off to committee

Australia's attorney-general George Brandis won't get his critical infrastructure register kicked off this year: the legislation was introduced late last week, but immediately sent off to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The committee has been asked to provide its report into the bill in the …

  1. Denarius
    FAIL

    so this is one of a series of gummints that

    wants to sell the NBN to anyone, encourages states to sell off their assets to anyone, gave away its own IT to merkin companies, encourages use of foreign owned cloud with the feeble excuse the bit barn is in Oz, flogged off intellectual property loaded quangos for a song which promptly went up in value 10 times, sold its bank off to allow the others to do as they please and now its pretending having Oz owned by foreigners might be a problem. Question: why do they care or is this another way if finding out if there is anything left to flog to highest lowest bidder ?

    Do I detect the lawyers usual PHB inspired belief that anything technical must be easy ?

    1. GrumpyOldBloke

      Re: so this is one of a series of gummints that

      Oz owned by foreigners isn't a problem, especially if they are fervent supporters of democracy and the process of donations that keep it alive. A government that offers no value to its voter base is a problem. People might start asking why is government so expensive and what does it really do, having sold off any legitimate activity? Lists and databases to the rescue. Busy work under the pretense of keeping us safe. This is also visible in our PM's latest brain f@rt. A list of foreign actors who might seek to influence government. ASIO already has a list and our politicians were so warned. Not good enough. We need to put them on another list, even better make them put themselves on a list for a fee. Not sure what happens to the list after that. Locked filing cabinet in the basement or circulated marked additional discretion required when accepting donations? As for Brandis's list, think back to gun registration. Once something is on list then additional rules can be formulated about its use or decommissioning. Like the Liddell power station whose owners are not prepared to play ball to flatter the LNP. As critical infrastructure we open the path to subsidies and arm twisting, carrots and sticks.

      1. Denarius
        Meh

        Re: so this is one of a series of gummints that

        too complex. How about

        All advertising must pass ACCC advertising truth rules, especially political, pressure, religious (including the various materialist cults) and charity groups.

        All political and pressure group funding must only come from local citizens who are humans. No businesses, associations, trusts etc.

        A return to the rules about misleading parliament used 30 years ago or enforcing them again.

        All political advertising limited to two pages of WC3 approved static HTML, which may only be updated weekly.

        On election to any level of government, all successful candidates must resign from all advisory bodies, parties, pressure groups, boards etc. Only allowable income is their parliament pay.

        Any minister overriding technically competent advice does so on their own head. ie no protection and complete liability for resultant loss of public monies. Finance must have a few bored economic rationalist bean counters left who would love this task.

        All legislation to have a plain language statement of goals, costs and method of measuring effectiveness over 5 and 10 years and expected consequences no longer than A4 page using medium font. Exploration of concept of all legislation being reassessed biannually to determine if it is working as required. Consider all legislation having a 5 year sunset clause.

        I was thinking a vow of poverty might be a good idea but that would stop the middle classes trying.

        I have no idea what Brandflakes or his PHB minders think this list is going to achieve other than more mindless meaningless paperwork that will create a great honeypot as the learned scribe put it. A cynic might suggests that the PHBs will also have no way to verify the accuracy of submitted documents so perhaps the utility companies have some options

        1. Big-nosed Pengie

          Re: so this is one of a series of gummints that

          Denarius for PM!

        2. Paul 129
          Holmes

          Re: so this is one of a series of gummints that

          Denarius: Has lots of ideas. The problem is simpler than that unfortunately.

          The problem is that the parties are designed to get people elected. They are not designed to get good, skilled people elected. As a result the political staffer with no real life experience, is the one who knows all the shortcuts, already has the key contact details within the party, and looks young youthful, an energetic go getter.

          Truth is, they're an inexperienced know nothing who have watched any number of shady backroom deals and backstabbings. These are the people we empower to run our government!

          The only way to change things, is to get involved. Doesn't matter which party. They've all rotted away to their poisoned cores. Get more people involved and take government back for the average majority. This left right divide is simply b@ll$hit to keep the masses occupied, thinking there is a difference, rather than demanding good leadership.

          1. Denarius

            Re: so this is one of a series of gummints that

            Paul, precisely why my kite flying suggestions reduces the power of parties and the chattering classes by slowing the news cycle a bit and reducing the power of administrative control by backroom dealers. Abolishing parties simply drives them underground and gives the illusion of being victims of suppression.

            I agree left/right divide is meaningless as are terms conservative and progressive. All they do is allow heated indignation. As for getting involved, this requires voters to care. Of that I see little evidence. Most voters in most countries IMHO, like outsourcing their minds to preferred media mumbler. So what way forward is workable ? An informed skepticism and keeping ones MP admonished with defendable data every time the BS takes flight. Any other ideas that do not involve violence or another poisonous Utopia? Will the collapse of the current House of Cards that is world economics have some influence ?

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