User:MarkG/2016 policy amendments

Congress 2016

Policy review and update

Apply the edits contained in this update of the existing policy platform: https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/PDC:_altstructure

Rationale

PPAU runs a uniquely open policy process. Over the past 3.5 years, members have written almost 60 pages (30,000 words) of policy. While that is a great testament to our process and volunteerism, there is a risk that the sheer amount of policy can get overwhelming and hard to keep on top of. Over time, parts of it may get out of date as things change. Other parts may sink without a trace or draw negative feedback. This is valuable, as feedback makes the policies better - but only if we respond to it.

There are also growing issues with the way the policies are laid out. Some policies, like civil liberties, have grown so large and cover so many sub-topics that they're difficult to read. The split between 'civil' and 'digital' issues has also shredded topics like privacy across multiple policies, making it hard to get a sense of our complete stance.

Every few years, we need to run a deep edit of our policy platform to correct all these accumulated issues.

This edit to the platform contains new policies, but it refreshes some of the existing material in the following ways:

• Splits overly long policies (i.e., civil liberties, tax, environment, foreign affairs) into separate sections (ie, all privacy material has been drawn together and pasted in as its own policy; same with free speech, same with self ownership, etc). Where policies have a link to each other, they have been grouped under larger headings.
• Joins the policy text together on a single platform document. Previously, it was hard to read because the policies were all on separate pages and readers had to click to get to a preamble, then click again from the preamble to read the policy. This page format will be simpler to navigate.
• Removes or updates parts that are obsolete, and reviews the rest for expression and readability.
• Throws in a few more pictures and quotes to break up the 'wall of text'.

Specific changes by policy:

Freedom of speech

• This is the freedom of speech section from civil liberties, copied out and pasted as a standalone policy. It retains all the existing policy content related to speech. There are edits to the preamble text for clarity and to help it work better as a standalone.

Privacy

• This merges all privacy-related content from the former civil liberty and digital liberty policies. There are moderate edits to the preamble text to remove duplication and improve readability. Preamble text now covers recent developments (metadata collection laws).

Justice

• This is the justice section of civil liberties recut as a standalone policy. There is no change to policy content. There are some tweaks to the preamble to help it work better as a standalone policy.

Control over the body

• This is the relevant material from civil liberties, recut as a standalone policy. There is no change to policy content. There is a slight reordering of policy dot points and expanded preamble to make it work as a standalone policy.

Marriage

• Comprises the existing marriage policy, now moved up to stand under the broader civil liberties policy grouping. The preamble text is edited for flow; terminology on “same sex marriage” has been changed to make it more inclusive. A new paragraph has also been added to the preamble better explain the connection with our core themes. No change to the policy text except for removal of a redundant line (the ban on forced unions was in there twice).

Digital rights

• This comprises the remaining parts of the old digital liberties policy. The policy text is unchanged, but the preamble is recut slightly to work as a standalone passage.

Copyright

• No changes.

Culture and media

• “and media” added to the heading so people can more easily locate the public broadcasting section. Removed reference to “asset recycling fund” as a funding source, as this no longer exists. Some slight edits to preamble for readability. Policy text is unchanged.

Patents

• Some edits to the preamble for readability and recent events. Policy content unchanged except for inclusion of more active language and deletion of reference to innovation patents. Deletes reference to innovation patents as these are under review and we should withhold a stance until there is more clarity over their future form.

School education

• Encompasses the school & early childhood parts from the previous education policy. Some tweaks made to the preamble for readability and to work better as a standalone. Policy point on the funding balance between public and private schools has been made more general, as the existing phrasing ("reduce quantum of funding to private schools to match 1996 levels") is too arbitrary and specific.

Universities

• Comprises the university section from the previous broader education policy. Small edits to the preamble to improve clarity.

Science plan

• Comprises the science plan section from the previous broader education policy. Includes updates on funding mechanism as previous policy cited Asset Recycling fund as a source. This source no longer exists, so instead the policy now proposes funding via savings from abolishing drug patents.

Government

• Preamble changed slightly for readability. Removed some policy sections on election debates, electronic voting and election rego costs as these are non-core issues which have not gotten any positive public response in 3 years.

Basic income

• This is the basic income section from the previous tax policy. Preamble has been slightly edited to use the basic income terminology more. An unnecessary point about the medicare levy has been dropped. The section on corporate tax has been removed as member & public feedback doesn't seem very supportive.

Housing affordability & land tax

• This is the state tax reforms section of the previous tax policy. Expanded preamble to work as a standalone (and because there was feedback that this bit needed to be explained more). Slight clarification to policy wording from:

• Encourage states to apply differential levels based on per-meter land value to produce optimal builds.

to

• Encourage states to apply progressive rates and different structures to encourage 'competitive federalism' and optimal tax builds.

Distributed digital currencies

• Tiny edits to preamble for readability. No change to policy.

Fiber to the premises

• No changes.

Climate change and renewable energy

• This is the climate change section from the previous environment policy. Slight tweaks to preamble to work as a standalone, and correction of a typo (should read 70,000 and not 70 GwH).

Ecology and land management

• This is the land management section from the previous environment policy. Slight tweaks to preamble to work as a standalone.

Animal welfare

• Drops the section on live cattle exports. Cattle exports is a non-core issue and our policy keeps getting attacked (unfairly) by animal liberationists. Based on feedback over the last two elections it is better to be open to ideas rather than overly prescriptive on this issue.

Health

• No change to policy. Tiny edits to preamble including changes in NDIS section to refer to users as “clients”. This was recommended by people working in the sector.

War on drugs

• Slight improvements and updates to the preamble (which is nearly 4 years old).

Asylum seekers

• Readability tweaks. Also time period updates as the older version references the situation as it was 3 years ago.

Treaties and diplomacy

• Extracted from the old foreign policy. Tweaks to preamble for readability and to work as a standalone. Long paragraph on aid removed from preamble, as it's covered perfectly well in the policy text.

Defence etc

• Extracted from the old foreign policy. Tweaks to preamble for readability and to work as a standalone. Inserted a clarification on our preferred defence funding level, as this has been requested.

Lockout laws

Insert into the Culture and media policy, the following point under 'Expand funding and venues for artists':

• Repeal 'lockout laws' and allow venues and pubs more freedom to determine their own opening hours.

Rationale

This issue has become policy-worthy. We should make it clear that we aren't music-hating authoritarians.

Federal ICAC

Insert into the Government transparency policy, the following point under 'Improve transparency and conduct in Australian politics':

• Establish a Federal anti-corruption authority with powers modeled on ICAC.

Rationale

This idea has gained prominence over the last 12 months, and seems like a no-brainer for PPAU.

Sex work

Insert into the Control over the body policy the following point:

• Decriminalise sex work and limit police intervention to cases of exploitation and coercion.

Rationale

We have had queries about our stance. This seems like the logical position for a civil libertarian party.

Abuse in detention centres

Insert into the free speech policy, the following point: under 'Remove counter-productive restrictions on freedom of speech':

• Repeal sections of the Border Force Act which allow for prosecution of whistleblowers who report abuses in detention centres.

Rationale

We should be clear about opposing horrible laws like this.

Recent animal welfare issues

Insert into the Animal welfare policy the following points:

• Ban cosmetics testing on animals
• Ban 'puppy farming' and unregulated high-volume dog breeding.

Rationale

These things are probably going to happen anyway. We should lead from the front.