"Australia’s current metadata retention laws are some of the most intrusive of any democracy in the world. These laws require that telecommunication companies keep records of every single phone call we make and text message we send, as well as a range of other personal data, for at least two years. This data is being quietly accessed over 350,000 times a year by at least 87 different agencies ranging from local councils to the RSPCA. The laws have also been used by police to secretly access journalists’ metadata at least 78 times. The Human Rights Law Centre has been challenging the scope of these laws and calling for significant reforms to safeguard democracy and our right to privacy. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security conducted an extensive review of the laws, which have been in place since 2017. The Human Rights Law Centre briefed the Committee, advising that the retention regime lacked important democracy safeguards and was a grossly disproportionate infringement of Australians’ privacy. In October 2020, the Committee handed down 22 recommendations to scale back the regime, including amending the laws so that people’s data can only be accessed by specified security and law enforcement agencies in connection with serious crimes."
2020 Annual Report Australian Human Rights Law Centre
Posted by 1patriotWorld’s Fastest Indian to Ride Again In the 1950s and 1960s, Burt Munro was a motorcycling legend.
Posted by FrayedBearIn the event of nuclear war between USA & China what are the most likely first strike targets?
Posted by 1patriotThis is a big concern
Posted by vocaloldfart Australia being turned into ‘51st US state’ – ex-PM Canberra is losing its strategic autonomy due to its security pact with the US and UK, Paul Keating has argued The US is surrounding...
Posted by 1patriot[rebelnews.
Posted by 1patriotThat would be a plus....
Posted by FrayedBearTime for Australia to follow suit?
Posted by 1patriotthey are creating a 15 Cities all along this coast in Australia
Posted by 1patriotthunder writes: I remember early in the pandemic when there was a protest outside the hospital (Toronto Canada).
Posted by vocaloldfart Is this the way of the future?
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Posted by vocaloldfartMichael Pascoe: And the award for the worst Liberal leader goes to… ?
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Posted by FrayedBearThis amused me. How about you? "Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia." Charles Shulz
Posted by FrayedBearNine chairman, and former Australian Treasurer, Peter Costello is now promoting war with China after making $millions lobbying for defence companies BY SHANE DOWLING ON MARCH 12, 2023