Minutes/General Meeting/2012-08-28

=General IRC Meeting (#ppau)=

Start: 20:00 28/08/12

Finish: 21:37 28/08/12

Attendance: ~64

Agenda

 * natsecinquiry, cybercrime, other inquiries - Brendan
 * Universities - recruiting, awareness, clubs/societies and affiliations?
 * Candidate pre-selection - liamp
 * RWG - Brendan
 * banner for state branch - lukejohn  <-- (something like this)
 * Cryptoparties - stuart biggs(?)
 * Campaign Committee looking for creative assistance - DWC

National Security Inquiry

 * PPAU recently made a submission to the National Security Enquiry.
 * ~140 receieved by PJCIS.
 * Clarification: Some confusion by people with the Cybercrime Bill 2011 (made in order to accede to the Cybercrime Convention of the Council of Europe) as they happened in the same week.
 * Submission #41 from Brunel University
 * It proposes a National Digital Identity Regime, despite all similar past attempts in Australia failing.
 * Summary: the internet has given (people) a lot of freedom, it's time to curb it.
 * The submission had significant problems - details omitted, technical issues not addressed, facts selectively twisted to meet their agenda, poor academic practices and gross incompetence.
 * Suppresion of new technologies, anti-civil rights, anti-association, insistence on "real ID" (something only required usually in specific circumstances e.g. arrest, court appearances etc.)
 * Hasimir has contacted the authors with our criticisms. Their response did not adequately address any of our concerns; a follow up response is being written.
 * Other notable submissions made by law enforcement agencies, angry individuals, organisations, Victorian Privacy Comissioner, Indepedent Comission Against Corruption (ICAC).
 * PPAU has an ongoing petition with nearly 1000 signatures thus far. http://pirateparty.org.au/natsecinquiry-petition.
 * Additional promotion will continue to be undertaken through social media. Two video editors have also volunteered their time to help create engaging content.

Cybercrime Bill 2011

 * In-depth analysis in progress
 * No Warrant required for data retention, but warrant needed to access said data
 * Most mainstream media relegated news of the CB-2011 to "Tech News"
 * Benchmark for the severity of offences has been lowered to 3 years gaol, $99,000 fine or the death sentence.
 * We now have the death sentence enshrined in Australian law, to render foreign assistance. - the ammendment by the Greens to remove this provision was defeated.
 * PPAU will publicly thank Senator Ludlam when our analysis is released, for his efforts in lobbying against the Cybercrime Bill 2011.

Other Inquiries

 * Submission by PPAU will be made to the upcoming Privacy Act review.

Universities - recruitment, clubs/socities, affiliations

 * Average age of PPAU members is currently 30. Universities are great grounds for recruitment due to increased youth awareness of digital and social issues.
 * Registered univserity socities required to have tables/stalls, flyers etc.
 * Possibility of starting active pirate societies in UQ anf UC.
 * Socialist groups continue to be obstructive.
 * Pirate societies pushing a platform of transparency could engage many students, given the current state of corruption in many university unions.

Registration Working Group

 * Wendy has completed the verification of her chunk of ~300 members, of which 40% are verified. Remaining 60% are due to spelling errors, changed address, missing middle names etc.
 * No updates receieved from Ronan or Quentin as of yet.

Membership database

 * Membership numbers for each state will be released soon.
 * Official formed state parties will receieve access to their constituents.
 * Unofficial state parties will receieve access to a mailing list.

Banners for state branches

 * Any requests should be forwarded to the Campaigns Committee and National Council for approval

Candidate pre-selection

 * Queensland - 1 for the HoR in the seat of Lilley (Wayne Swan's seat, mainly for publicity), 2 other serious candidates for the Senate. A 4th candidate withdrew his candidacy for personal reasons.
 * Melbourne crew running regular meetings - slow trickle of new members every meeting. David Haidon is the only formal candidate so far. David Crafti has withdrawn his candidacy due to other commitments.
 * NSW is open for applications - David Campbell has applied. There are also a few expressions of interest.
 * Some discrepancy between previous NC meeting minutes and Congress motions.

Cryptoparties

 * There are cryptoparties running in Sydney, Brisbane (PPAU), Canberra (PPAU), Melbourne (PPAU), Gold Coast.
 * Teaches practical crypto skills.
 * Focus on activists, privacy advocates, people involved in politics.

Campaigns Committee looking for creative assistance

 * People with tallent in film directing/editing and graphic design.
 * Vacant posts to be published on website.

Action Items

 * None