According to recent reports in The Australian[1] and The Canberra Times[2], the Attorney General will today host a stakeholder meeting with the many fronts and faces of the copyright lobby and various ISPs with which they wish to saddle the responsibility for enforcing their monopoly. The Attorney General however has convened this meeting with one of the most important stakeholders absent – you.

“It is deeply concerning. To allow big media a free hand in drafting copyright legislation and dictating terms of enforcement without consulting other stakeholders will result in laws that benefit only big media at the expense of artists and consumers,” said Simon Frew, Acting Secretary.

He continued, “There are huge civil liberties and human rights issues in any enforcement framework. The termination, suspension or limitation of access upon allegation or even violation of copyright, in an ill-conceived attempt to prop up failing business models, at the expense of artists and consumers is completely unacceptable.”

“There has been huge doubt cast over research conducted by shady lobby groups which have been used by the Attorney General as justification for the policy direction of the Australian Government.[4] In order to have balanced laws, the government must be transparent and inclusive, allowing all stakeholders, including artists and consumers an equal opportunity in drafting any legislation,” said Rodney Serkowski, President of Pirate Party Australia.

He continued, “When meetings are convened in secret and exclude important stakeholders and civil society, it compromises the integrity of our democratic processes.”

“There needs to be an understanding of the transformative nature of the Internet. An understanding that recognises the fact that antiquated mechanisms like copyright must be radically reformed. Recognition of access as a fundamental right and the recognition of the Internet as a utility. The contents of our communication online should be no more scrutinised than our mail,” concluded Brendan Molloy, Acting Secretary.

[1] http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/a-g-in-call-for-talks-on-online-piracy/story-e6frgakx-1226120005661
[2] http://torrentfreak.com/press-starts-to-doubt-anti-piracy-propaganda-machine-110920/
[3] http://torrentfreak.com/secrecy-and-darkness-surround-mysterious-900m-piracy-report-110314/
[4] http://www.ag.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/Speeches_2011_FirstQuarter_25February2011-AddresstotheBlueSkyConferenceonfuturedirectionsinCopyrightlaw