Pirate Party Australia wishes to express its dismay at the recent amendments of the
Electoral Act and disgust at Attorney-General Michael Atkinson's apparent contempt for the
South Australian public.

The South Australian Attorney-General commented with respect to new amendments
requiring "anyone making an online comment about next month's state election to publish
their real name and postcode."

Mr Atkinson said "There is no impinging on freedom of speech, people are free to say what
they wish as themselves, not as somebody else."

Matt Redmond, South Australian Pirate Party spokesperson stated "Every citizen in a
democracy has the right to question the government, and in doing so, has the right to
protect himself from censure. Even within the narrow scope of this bill, the Government
has limited what people will be able to say without fear of retribution. Besides being
ludicrously unenforceable, this amendment merely demonstrates that the Government has
no interest in representing the people.”

He continued “That Ms Redmond and the Opposition raised no substantial objections to
these amendments shows that they are just as out of touch with the internet generation as
the incumbent Government."

Rodney Serkowski, Pirate Party Australia Secretary criticised Attorney-General Atkinsonʼs
comments. "Such comments are completely and utterly ignorant. Anonymity is an essential
part of political discourse in any democracy, and an essential part of the freedom of
speech. Mr. Atkinson does not seem to realise that someone may choose to maintain their
anonymity due to fear of harassment, political or economic retribution and even
sometimes, threat to their lives. It is necessary for whistle blowers, those struggling against
repressive governments and so forth."

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"This is what makes the internet such an important mechanism for the freedom of
expression and political discourse. The protection of anonymity works to enable the free
flow of ideas, and although I think the initial claims by the Adelaide Advertiser were
somewhat broad, the laws are still unworkable, unnecessary, and the effect on the
freedom of speech is worrying. Mr. Atkinson's comments however, remain bewildering."

"Although there are issues with anonymous slander, this is a flimsy pretext for systematic
assaults on fundamental protections and rights."

David Crafti, Pirate Party Australia President found the legislation to be ridiculously
inappropriate. "After passing laws that criminalise citizens for being members of certain
groups, there is more reason than ever in South Australia for people to want to comment
anonymously." He continued, "As well as copyright and patent reform, it is to fight
breaches of civil liberties like this that Pirate Party Australia has been formed. Join our
movement to show Michael Atkinson that he can't display this kind of contempt for
Australian citizens."

Mr Atkinson has since retreated, declaring that he will move to repeal the legislation
retrospectively after the South Australian election, however this displays a certain level of
arrogance in presuming that the South Australian public will re-elect him after such a
move. This is simply a baseless promise from a politician, who clearly has scant regard for
individual liberties. Such legislation should never have been enacted.

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