Pirate Congress 2012 Minutes

Meeting Minutes This document is a record of a meeting. Do not edit this document without contacting the relevant group first.

Motions passed according to these minutes went on to a full party vote, and were not automatically adopted as policy.

A modification to the standing orders was passed, removing the need for a vote to pass amendments if the person putting the motion forward accepted. The minutes reflect this with “Amendment accepted” in certain places. Those putting forward motions were free to amend them on the floor, this is reflected in the minutes.

The minutes took longer than expected to produce for the following reasons:–

• Administrative tasks which also delayed opening of the vote.
• Technical issues relating to the recording of the Congress.
• Lack of wired Internet connection meaning that minutes taken at the time were incomplete as only one person was working on them.
• The necessity of completing the minutes based on the recordings.
• The lack of motions and amendments being in written form.

As far as possible, these minutes are an adequate representation of the decisions made at the Congress, based on the events of the weekend and the recordings.

Saturday morning session

• Congress opened by David Campbell

Standing orders

• http://www.pirateparty.org.au/wiki/National_Congress_Standing_Orders
• Standing orders voted on and adopted

Outgoing National Council speeches

Brendan Molloy – Party Secretary

• About one press release per week since last Congress
• US Memorandum of Understanding
• Secret privacy meetings
  • FOI requests revealed little useful information
  • Unlikely the talks will have any effect
• Government continued "security theatre" with the full body scanners at airports
  • Much less effective than the pat-down method
• Two submissions on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA):
  • The second submission by Rodney Serkowski highlighted EU developments which occurred during after the first submission.
  • In the final Joint Standing Committee on Treaties report, we were footnoted 5 to 10 times.
  • European Union voted to reject ACTA.
  • We are still signatories and could ratify it, and Mexico has recently signed it.
• R18+ legislation: While this may not change the content available, it still allows for reform of the definition of R18+ in separate existing legislation.
  • Half the battle is over

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) brief in Canberra, meetings in Melbourne and Sydney.

• • Canberra:
    • Hostile audience towards TPPA.
    • DFAT were unable to provide evidence that there was any economic advantage to having IP provisions.
  • Melbourne (David Campbell talks briefly):
    • Reception of PPAU's presentation was good.
    • Vietnam and others were impressed and copies of the speech were requested.
  • The Californian Pirate Party (CAPP) attended San Diego negotiating round (back to Brendan).
  • Agreement is expected to wrap up within the next two negotiating rounds.
  • Investment chapter is much worse than IP, effectively allowing corporations to sue governments for passing legislation which would effect their profits.

PPAU-ACT branch formed. Webcast launched by Sam Kearns. Press release on whistleblower protections Attended Pirate Parties International General Assembly 2012 conference. Renamed IT Committee to IT Workgroup. Created Programming Workgroup (PWG).

• Positions – pirateparty.org.au/positions:
  • Send PPAU an email if you want to apply.
  • Anyone who wants to help PPAU but doesn’t find the positions appealing contact PPAU anyway and inform the Party of your skills.
• Reviews: Copyright, Technological Protection Measures (TPM), National Security (NatSec), Mandatory Licensing for Patents:
  • Urgent as there are only a few week to do TPM and NatSec.
  • Request for extension of NatSec review rejected.

David Campbell – President

PPAU is starting to be considered a serious political force. Mentioned weekly by news sources. Most of the switched-on reporters see us as the “go to guys” for telecommunications and privacy issues. Clashed with trade delegates on numerous issues. Helped Pirate Parties in other countries to form and get off the ground. Membership fluctuated intensely – some people quit, but ACT election recruitment drive and online form have increased membership.

• • Registration application for Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) now much easier to submit.

Communication is our number one downfall:

• • We have so many methods to communicate, but groups use different methods and there is little linkage between them.
  • A lot of people get confused and feel left out, mailing lists are being worked on.
  • Geographic distribution makes things complex.
  • IRC is unfamiliar territory for most people.

Distribution of workload – 99% of the work is done by 1% of members.

• • There’s probably 19% out there who want to get involved.
    • Check the positions and shoot PPAU an email to see how you can get involved.
    • Usually people with skills get put to work straight away, and positions get formalised over time.

Funding is necessary to compete in elections, and will need to be considered by the next National Council. Proud of what PPAU and everyone else worldwide achieved regarding ACTA. TPPA is still needing defeat.

• New projects that will facilitate smoother Party operation are in the works.

We need to continue supporting Wikileaks and Julian Assange.

Questions and comments from the floor

Wendy Nye – Queensland

Communication is difficult:

• • IRC is not particularly popular and seems to be a bit of a nightmare for some.

Brendan – mailing lists should be up and running again soon. How large is the Party, who, and where are they based?

• • Raw data indicates 900, may drop down to 600.
  • Largest membership densities (figures are approximates):
    • NSW – 300
    • Victoria – 180
    • ACT – 125
    • Queensland – no estimate given
    • SA – no estimate given
    • WA – no estimate given
    • Tasmania – no estimate given
    • NT – 10
  • Shortest membership was eight minutes.
  • Rewording FAQ and Wiki
  • Wiki needs people to work on it
  • Email PPAU or contact members if you need help with wikis
  • Email if you want to do any work on the website content.

Break

(10:50) – Stream crashed. Congress halted. (11:00) – Stream working. Congress resumes.

Outgoing National Council speeches (resumed)

Alexis Shaw – Party Agent

Disappointed to be not as active as would be hoped. What’s happened with PPAU is really great. Very proud to be a member of a growing and budding movement and hub of innovation.

David Haidon – Deputy Party Secretary

It’s been really interesting being the only Victorian-based National Council member. Hopes to see people from other states getting more involved. Attended two of the Wikileaks rallies. Looking forward to expanding PPAU-VIC

Rodney Serkowski – Treasurer

• Very proud to see the group he started bloom into an organisation of activists.
• Great to see people engaging with political development.
• People are taken aback when members turn up at events and ask questions.

“Informed activists” NGOs and academics are particularly interested in the swell of Internet activists. Greens and others are starting to pay attention as a result of European developments. Established parties are being challenged as per Falkvinge's forty-year cycle.

Simon Frew – Deputy President

First joined when there was just 20 people on IRC and a message board. Other political activist groups tend to be very static:

• • Very proud to be part of a movement that is developing and growing.
• People who want to learn more about our policies should help out on submissions.
  • They make you more or less experts in a particular field.
  • Knowing this background is helpful for presentations and debates.
• People have stopped attacking PPAU for the name, and are taking us more seriously.
• Systems that are being developed are promising – e.g. Polly.

Crowd-sourcing for funding is a good idea and should be pursued.

Questions and comments from the floor (resumed)

Sam Kearns – NSW

“I agree that our actions this year have looked knowledgeable and intelligent. When I read PPAU’s press releases, I am proud to have my name associated.”

Guest Speakers

Asher Wolf on Saturday afternoon. Dan Hunter on Sunday afternoon.

Andrew Downing – Polly Presentation

Transcript will be provided when possible.

Brendan – Programming Workgroup

• Contact interested people and forward them onto PPAU
  • IRC: #ppau-pwg
  • Wiki (see above link)
• Privateer – FOI request system on behalf of others with crowd-sourcing when necessary.

People with Python programming knowledge would be great.

Lunch

(12:26) Congress adjourned for lunch.

Saturday afternoon session

Rodney Serkowski – Congress Theme

Theme is “Freedom Not Fear”. Related to the National Security Inquiry implications.

• PPAU is working with other organisations to create a protest and networking event between various activist groups.
• Statement that affirms the value of a free and open society against the backdrop of increasing intrusive anti-terrorism and anti-privacy legislation.
• Borrowed from the European initiative.

So far many activist groups and individuals are pledging support.

• EFA may be on board.
• Citizen organisations that support Wikileaks.
• Journalists and publications

Motions

Motion 1: Voting Method

Put by Brendan Molloy

• Amendment put by David Haidon: To modify OPTION 3 to “The method for voting by members at the National Congress will be optional preferential voting, with the method for the next Congress determined by motion at the National Congress.”
  • Amendment passes.

Amendment put by Brendan Molloy: To remove OPTION 2, make OPTION 2 OPTION 3, and to modify OPTION 3 to include “The voting method carries until the next National Congress if a two-thirds majority of members present at the Congress is not met for an alternatively proposed method.”

• Amendment passes.

Motion passes.

Motion 2: Pre-selection of Candidates for Federal Election

Put by Simon Frew Amendment put by Alexis Shaw: To replace “stating” with “to the effect of”. Comment from Liam Pomfret: “We should also make sure that any such requirement does not prevent or hinder conscience votes. Hard to see any potential conscience votes case being against party policy, but something to keep in mind anyway.” Comment from Mark Street: “We intend to have a policy that’s fluid, and I think to lock someone in before the election and say ‘you must support our policy’ to all extents legally binding is fairly risky for us. We are a progressive party, and we don’t want to take the path of traditional parties.” Comment from Simon Frew: “It’s not actually legally binding.” Comment from Ronan Lee:

• • May in fact need to check with the Electoral Commission as to what is appropriate.
  • Need to consider implications of placing impediments upon the members or candidates that may not be consistent with the Constitution.
  • Attempts to unduly influence your vote within the Parliament aren’t legal.
  • Parties use certain wording to get around these things to indicate their intent in terms of wanting candidates to subscribe to the aims and objective.
  • This seems to be appropriately non-threatening, but not a lawyer.
  • Get the AEC to check that such a statement was legally okay, in case it jeopardised the Party’s registration or standing.

Motion to amend standing orders

Put by Brendan Molloy To amend the standing orders so that there are only two speakers for and two speakers against each motion, unless there is need for extended discussion, or additional amendments.

• Motion passes.

Motion 2: Pre-selection of Candidates for Federal Election (resumed)

Deferred until presented with reworded motion

Motion 3: Platform Revision 2012

Put by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer Explanation by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer:

• • The platform has been out of date for a while.
  • Went through and checked it for spelling and grammar, then had other people check over it multiple times.
  • Cut parts out that unnecessarily complicated our policies.
  • Now clearly laid out with eight distinct sections, previously there were only three with many sub-sections.
  • People can now see policies.
  • Needs to be very readable.
  • Based on ALP and Greens/EFA platforms.
  • Biomedical Research Treaty was a good idea, but six paragraphs is confusing as it’s too dense for the platform.
  • R18+ section read more like legislation, and this is not good for a platform.
  • Oversight is necessary with this though.
  • Added in motions that passed last Congress.

David Crafti wrote the R18+ section, and agrees with the R18+ cuts. Rodney Serkowski raises concern over removal of biomedical research treaty parts. Deferred until Sunday, for reading and preparation of amendments.

Motion 4: Disclosure of political donations

Question from Andrew Downing: “Can Pirate Party Australia do this by itself?”

• Yes, we can, but we need a policy on this.

Amendment put by George Campbell: replace “immediately” with “at the existing three-month intervals.”

• Amendment passes.

Motion passes.

Motion to amend standing orders

Put by the National Council. To amend the standing orders so that if the presenter of a motion accepts proposed amendments to it, there is no need to vote on the amendments.

• Motion passes.

Motion 4: Disclosure of political donations (resumed)

Motion passes.

Motion 5: Unrestricted Format Shifting

• Put by Brendan Molloy and Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer

Amendment put by Brendan Molloy: To remove “in circumstances where no financial or commercial gain is derived, or for educational purposes”.

• • Amendment accepted.

Motion passes.

Motion 6: Periodic return of copyright ownership to original creators

Put by Joakal. Comment from Brendan Molloy: “The explanation isn’t really evidence – it doesn’t exactly explain why this is good policy.” Comment from David Campbell: “I feel it collides with the fact that often the artist doesn’t own the copyright over sound recordings.” Comment from Alexis: “This would also likely conflict with derivative works where the creator has licensed it.” Motion dismissed.

Motion 7: Non-Commercial Patent Infringement

Put by Joakal. Comment from Brendan Molloy: “The grammar could be better, but I don’t see any issues with the idea. It’s been discussed within the party, and it seemed people agreed it was an area to expand into. If you want to try and build something in your backyard for no commercial gain, then sure. We still need to amend it, so if someone could flesh it out and bring it back tomorrow, that’d be great.” Comment from Simon Frew: “It needs to be legalised, not decriminalised.” Comment from David Crafti: “Sounds like this motion protects the ‘freedom to tinker’. And we should do our best to uphold that.” Comment from Quentin Serrurier: “‘Freedom to Tinker’ sounds like an excellent policy name.” Motion deferred.

Motion 8: Accelerating 3D Printer Technology Research

Put by Joakal. Comment from Brendan Molloy: “In general a good idea, as formulated now it’s not a policy. Motion dismissed.

Motion 9: Encouraging Tangible Object Creativity with 3D Printers

Put by Joakal. Comment from Brendan Molloy: “This is not a minor goal. This is a very radical change to the general education system. Recently coming out of working with the Department of Education, I can’t see this working unless support was put behind it. This is not something that fits in our platform. It’s a way of implementing something, not actually what we want to do.” Comment from Mark Street: “I’m halfway through building a 3D printer, and I see it as something that fits totally within our platform. Copyright covers the designs, it covers how these things are getting distributed. Especially with ones which can build themselves. It’s a very positive thing that we could support. I would say no to this actual paragraph, but I don’t think it should be dismissed. Rewriting it would be a good thing to do.” Comment from Brendan Molloy: “We will at least have framed the debate if we take a stance on this now, before the lobbyists do.” Comment from Liam Pomfret: “An interesting idea, but may be a bit premature given that 3D printers are still a relatively young technology. It would take a long time for teachers to be able to use this effectively.” Comment from Sam Kearns: “We should be pushing for the right laws around 3D printing and let industry have at it. It’s not an area for government to dictate implementation.” Comment from David Crafti: “I agree with Mark. This is an area where we should start developing policy. If we aren’t the first, who would be?” Motion deferred.

Motion 10: Exception of intellectual property infringement within extradition treaties

Put by Joakal. Comment from Alexis Shaw: “Along with motion 11 and 12, this is a very important issue. Particularly surrounding jurisdiction in online matters regarding intellectual property infringement. All three should be reworked, and I’d like to have a go at rewriting them and presenting them tomorrow. I think they’re the same basic motion, but in three parts.” Motion deferred.

Motion 11: Extradition Exception for Significant Local Actions

Put by Joakal. Motion deferred (see above motion).

Motion 12: Adding section “Foreign Policy”

Put by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer. Motion deferred (see above motion).

Motion 13: Government-funded public domain torrent tracker

Put by Joakal. Self-amended to replace “torrent tracker” with “distribution service”. Comment from Brendan Molloy: “It seems redundant as the National Archives already do this sort of thing.” Motion dismissed.

Motion 14: Scaling penalty system

Put by Joakal. General concerns over whether or not the the idea is actually implementable, though support for the principle. While it has worked in other countries, such as Sweden, Australia is considerably different. Congress was open to a rewrite for the next Congress. Motion dismissed.

Motion 15: Artistic Quotation Rights

Put by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer Piratepartiet (Pirate Party Sweden). Clarification: this would allow commercial use of parts of other people’s works. Motion deferred.

Motion 16: Support for Fibre-to-the-Home Infrastructure Projects

Put by Brendan Molloy. Amended by Brendan Molloy to replace all “home” with “premises”. Amendment put by Thomas Rundall: to replace all “economy” with “society”.

• Amendment accepted.

Amended by Brendan Molloy: To add “where economically feasible” after “to a fibre network.” Motion passed.

Motion 17: Mandatory Privacy Breach Disclosure and Legislative Protection

Put by Brendan Molloy. Amended by Brendan Molloy: To replace “fine” with “penalties”. Motion deferred.

Motion 18: Any Australian Government Electronic Voting Systems should be required to be open sourced

Put by Andrew Downing. Amendment put by Alexis Shaw: To replace “open source” with “openly available” in the first line, and “openly and freely available” in the last sentence.

• Amendment accepted.

Amendment put by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer: to move the explanation into the actual platform amendment.

• Amendment accepted.

Motion deferred pending rewrite in accordance with above amendment.

Motion 19: Update to the Network Neutrality section of the Draft Platform

Put by Andrew Downing. Motion passed.

Motion 20: Removal of Treaty Making Power from the Executive, Ensuring Parliamentary Oversight and Procedural Transparency

Put by Rodney Serkowski. Motion deferred.

Motion 21: Consumer Protection

Put by David Crafti. Comment from Brendan Molloy: “Motions are not needed to create sections of the platform. If a motion calls for the creation of a new section, that section automatically comes into existence.” Motion dismissed as unnecessary.

Motion 22: Move the DRM section of the Draft Platform under Consumer Protection

Put by David Crafti. Motion deferred.

Motion 23: National IP Trust

• Put by David Crafti.
• Motion deferred due to time constraints.

Motion 24: Freedom of Information Exemptions

Put by David Crafti. Motion deferred due to time constraints.

Motion 25: Whistleblower Protection

Put by David Crafti. Amendment put by Brendan Molloy: Remove “at the Commonwealth level.”

• Amendment accepted.

Amendment put by Brendan Molloy: Change “Whistleblower Protection” to lower case.

• Amendment accepted.

Amendment put by Mark Street: Remove “to authorities”. Motion deferred.

Asher Wolf – Guest Speaker

Transcript will be available when possible.

Sunday Morning Session

Modification of agenda

Candidate speeches moved to the end so that motions can be dealt with quickly. Rodney will present the financial report at the start.

Rodney Serkowski – financial report

$16,920.23 in bank accounts. $946.63 income. $945 in donations. $1.63 in interest. Fundraising has not been a priority for the outgoing National Council, but will need to be focused on considering upcoming registration and elections. Very little expenditure – less than $1000 over the year. When registered there will stricter financial reporting to the AEC. New structure of membership will eventually be implemented as per National Council ideas. Donations are tax deductible after registration. Swag hasn’t been organised due to time constraints and other priorities.

Procedural motion

That the congress waive the audit of the accounts, as it would cost $1500 and be greater than both the income and the expenditure for this year. Motion passes.

Modification of agenda

Allowance of time for Glenn Takkenburg to talk about PPAU-ACT at 12:00. Motions which haven’t been rewritten overnight will be deferred to next congress.

Motions (resumed)

Motion 22: Move DRM section of the Draft Platform under Consumer Protection (resumed)

Put by David Crafti. Motion deferred.

Motion 23: National IP Trust (resumed)

Put by David Crafti. Amendment put by Alexis Shaw: To move it under the copyright policy section, not consumer protection.

• Amendment accepted.

Motion deferred.

Motion 24: Freedom of Information Exemptions (resumed)

• Amended by David Crafti: To add “with the potential for extensions” after “strictly limited time.”
• Amendment put by Brendan Molloy: To add “including private contractors” at the end of paragraph 2.
  • Amendment accepted.

Motion passes.

Motion 26: Extraordinary National Congress

Put by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer. Motion withdrawn.

Motion 27: Approach to the PPI situation

Put by Simon Frew. Clarification: Part one is a general condemnation by the whole PPAU. Clarification: Part two is to hold it in cyberspace. Clarification: The National Council will inform PPI of their disappointment. Merged with motion 28. Motion passes.

Motion 28: Offer to host 2014 PPI GA in Sydney

Put by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer Merged with motion 27.

Motion 29: Appointment of Public Officer

Put by Clarification: position must be filled by a NSW resident. Clarification: appointment will be the responsibility of the NC.

• Motion passes.

Motion 30: Pirate Party Australia to apply for membership in ACCAN

Amendment put by David Crafti: To remove “associate/non-voting.”

• Amendment accepted.

Motion passes.

Motion: Allowing vetted state co-ordinators access to membership database

Put by Mark Street: “To allow vetted state co-ordinators to the membership database for their state. Motion passed.

Sunday afternoon session

Motions (resumed from Saturday)

Motion 7 deferred until end. Motions 10, 11 and 12 deferred to Policy Development Committee until next Congress. Motion 22 deferred until next Congress. Motion added by George Campbell: “Full names on motions.” Motion added by Ronan Lee: “Party registration.”

Motion 2: Pre-selection of Candidates for Federal Election (resumed from Saturday)

Put by Simon Frew. Amended by Simon Frew:

• "6. All members wishing to run as candidates for Pirate Party Australia must sign a declaration to the effect of: I hereby pledge to advance and adhere to the platform and ideals of Pirate Party Australia, both during the election campaign and upon election to parliament."
• Motion passed.

Motion 3: Draft Platform 2012 Revision (resumed from Saturday)

Put by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer Motion passed.

Motion 9: 3D Printer Technology (resumed from Saturday)

Put by Joakal. Amendment put by Mark Street: To change the entire wording to –

• "3D Printer Technology: 3D printing and digital fabrication technologies are a rapidly growing area and provide a new frontier for spreading pirate ideals offline.

Like the printing press, the photocopier and the desktop computer before it, 3D printing promises to revolutionise the way ordinary people produce and share real world objects.

Pirate Party Australia forsees that the existing legislative frameworks will need to make changes to accommodate the innovation and sharing that will be associated with this technology."

• • Submotion A: A research and development fund for open source 3D printing related hardware and software.
  • Submotion B: A program to distribute open source where possible, low cost, 3D printers to high schools for Design and Technology classes.

Amendments to spelling and grammar.

• Amendments accepted.

Amendment put by Brendan Molloy: To put this under “Free Culture and Copyright Reform” if it passes.

• Amendment accepted.

Amendment put by unknown: To insert “where economically feasible” in Submotion B.

• Amendment dismissed.

Motion passed. Submotion A dismissed. Submotion B passed.

Motion 15: Artistic Quotation Rights (resumed from Saturday)

Put by Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer. Motion passed.

Motion 17: Mandatory Privacy Breach Disclosure (resumed from Saturday)

Put by Brendan Molloy. Amended by Brendan Molloy: “Mandatory Privacy Breach Disclosure 

In the case where security is breached there must be legislative protection requiring companies to disclose the breach as quickly as practically possible, with penalties for non-disclosure." Amendment put by David Crafti: Add “data” before “security”.

• Amendment accepted.

Motion passed.

Motion 18: Any Australian Government Electronic Voting Systems should be required to be open sourced (resumed from Saturday)

Put by Andrew Downing. Amended by Andrew Downing: Added to the end “This scheme would provide the possibility of an electronic equivalent of election scrutineers. It would permit scrutineers to assess the validity of the counting of votes and improve visibility of the ballot process. In the case of electronic voting, making the source code available is the only way to provide that visibility and avoid the discredited practice of security by obscurity. The business interests of electronic voting companies should remain a secondary consideration.” Motion passed.

Motion 20: Removal of Treaty Making Power from the executive, Ensuring Parliamentary Oversight and Procedural Transparency

• Put by Rodney Serkowski.
• To add to the draft platform the following:

"Foreign Policy

Transparency and Participation in Treaty Making

When Australia participates in international treaty or trade agreement negotiations, it is essential that the negotiations are conducted transparently, with oversight and with as much public participation as possible.

It is essential draft texts are made available prior signing, there is adequate and meaningful public participation and parliament is empowered with the authority to reject or accept the signing or accession to any international instrument.

The Party proposes a Constitutional referendum that limits the power of the executive's treaty making authority, requiring parliamentary oversight and consent, openness and participation."

Motion passed.

Motion 23: National IP Trust (resumed)

Put by David Crafti. Amended by David Crafti: Retitled to “DRM Unlocking Mechanisms” and the wording changed to –

“Add to the Draft Platform a fourth paragraph under "No Digital Restrictions Management":

"We also support legislation that would make creators release an unlocking mechanism to a secure third party where content would otherwise become unusable."”

• Motion passed.

Motion 25: Whistleblower Protection

Put by David Crafti. Amended to: “Add the following to the Draft Platform under the Transparency section: "Pirate Party Australia supports enactment of whistleblower protection legislation, which allows for and encourages disclosure of evidence of corruption and wrongdoing, including genuine disclosure to the media and to the public, and protects whistleblowers and journalists from reprisals for doing so."”

Motion 7: Non-Commercial Patent Infringement

Put by Joakal. Amended to: "Non-commercial patent infringement: Pirate Party Australia supports the introduction of legal protection for the non-commercial use of patents."

Motion 19A: Replacement of the Network Neutrality section of the Draft Platform

• To replace the "Net Neutrality" section of the draft platform with:

"‘Net Neutrality’ is the guiding principle of the Internet ensuring it is free, open and that, regardless of service provider, we all have access to the same Internet. The Net Neutrality principle prevents the blocking, speeding up, or slowing down of content based on its source, destination or owner.

The Net Neutrality principle is being threatened as content providers and Internet Service Providers begin to implement their own prioritisation of information and data flow. 

If Net Neutrality is sacrificed, there are potentially harmful consequences for competition, innovation and equality of access. Service providers may preference or block protocols to force consumers to use  less desirable options. Innovation could also suffer as Net Neutrality ensures even the smallest entrepreneurs have the same access as leading and established firms. Without Net Neutrality, new entrants will struggle to compete on the uneven playing field the Internet would become.

Free, open and non-discriminatory access to the Internet is essential for our democracy and for our economic well-being. Allowing discriminatory practices to develop would turn the Internet into a predominantly commercial-only zone – significantly impairing participation, choice and diversity.

We need the adoption of clear Net Neutrality principles and regulations that ensure lawful content, applications and services are treated in a non-discriminatory manner." Motion passed.

Motions to amend standing orders

Real Names on Motions

Put by George Campbell: “Motions submitted to have full names as registered with Pirate Party Australia, which can include other personal identifying names.” Motion defeated.

Pseudonyms on motions

Put by Brendan Molloy: “Motions may be sumitted under any name a member should choose given that said identity can be verified as a member." Motion passed.

Floor Motions

Floor Motion 1: The Creation of the Registration Workgroup

Put by Ronan Lee

“That this Pirate Party Congress select 3 members to be responsible for managing the registration of the PP as a Political Party with the AEC. They should work with the Party leadership, membership audit team and state and territory co-ordinators to ensure members are enrolled to vote; and should provide progress reports to bi-weekly general meetings of the party. This group is tasked with completing its duties and completing the necessary paperwork for party registration by August 31, 2012.

Ronan Lee, Wendy Nye and Quentin Serrurier will fulfil the requirements of these three positions.”

Motion passes.

National Council: Amendment to Constitution for Pre-Selection

Voted on by the National Council. To modify the Constitution to state words to the effect of:

“ Pre-Selection of Candidates for Election to Federal Parliament

All  Members seeking to stand as candidates for election to Federal  Parliament must be nominated and seconded by another member at the  National Congress or other extraordinary meeting determined by the National Congress.

This clause will lapse before the next National Congress. National Council passes this amendment.

Floor Motion 2: Procedure for handling preselection

Put by Wendy Nye:

“Federal parliament candidates nomination and selection for the upcoming federal election.   1. That all state and territory chapters of PPAU nominate candidates, with ranking of preference, for the upcoming federal election by August 31 2012. 2. That national council review, and a majority of national council ratify, state and territory candidate nominations within 2 weeks of receipt of nominations from the relevant state or territory co-ordinator / proxy. 3. In the case where the state/territory fails to nominate before August 31 2012; that all state and territory chapters of PPAU nominate candidates, as soon as they can, after August 31 2012. That the national council review, and a majority of national council ratify, state and territory candidate nominations within 2 weeks of receipt of nominations from the relevant state or territory co-ordinator / proxy.

If the states and National Council cannot come to an agreement, the decision may go to the majority vote of the party within 7 days by request of the injuried state/territory.” The Pre-selection meeting will be convened online, 21 days after the close of nomination period.

Candidates

• President:
  • Simon Frew
  • David Campbell
• Secretary
  • Brendan Molloy
  • Glenn Takkenberg
• Treasurer
  • Rodney Serkowski
  • David Campbell
  • Sam Kearns
• Deputy President
  • Simon Frew
  • Brendan Molloy
  • David Haidon
  • Glenn Takkenberg
  • David Crafti
  • David Campbell
  • Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer
• Deputy Secretary
  • David Campbell
  • Brendan Molloy
  • David Haidon
  • Glenn Takkenberg
  • Mark Street
  • Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer
• Deputy Treasurer
  • David Campbell
  • David Haidon
  • Glenn Takkenberg
  • Mark Street
  • Ben McGinnes
  • Sam Kearns
• Party Agent
  • Brendan Mollloy
  • David Campbell
  • David Haidon
  • Alexis Shaw
  • Glenn Takkenberg
  • Mark Street
• Dispute Resolution Committee
  • Alexis Shaw
  • David Crafti
  • Quentin (Can't remember surname)
  • George Campbell
  • Ben McGinnes