ImageCrime
Continuing its efforts to enhance our democracy, the Parliament of Australia has banned media organisations from taking photos in Parliament for a week, "ater they published pictures of a man jumping into the chamber during question time last Thursday."
According to the ABC, the Speaker banned the newspapers after "their pictures breached the rules for photographers, banning pictures of any disturbances... The restrictions on taking photos of disturbances in the galleries and the chamber is designed to ensure that there is no encouragement for others to take similar action, knowing they will receive publicity".
This does not seem to be balanced against the public's right to know what goes on inside "The People's House". Indeed, wouldn't television and printed reportage of the same event have the same notional effect? This is another weak pretext for the suppression of dissent: this site has already noted the suppression of free speech by restrictions on performances, demonstrations, and even participation in parliament by elected members; this comes as no surprise.
Item posted by AutoEditor at 3:32 pm ::
