There's a report in today's papers about Mr. John Buckingham, a prominant member of the local branch of the Liberal Party, who has received a one-year suspension. Why? Because he had the temerity to write a letter to the Editor of the Manly Daily Newspaper criticising factionalism for his party's loss of the by-election in Pittwater last November. The letter was printed prominently in the paper. Read the front page story in today's Manly Daily. A quote from the 15-year party member:
"I was distressed that prior to Friday night the maximum penalty was four months but then suddenly it became 12 months."
Buckingham's suspension from the Liberal party also got front page in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Hmmmm. Let's compare Mr. Buckingham's treatment with the Liberal Party's professed beliefs. Look at the website of the New South Wales branch of the Liberal Party. Here's the link to their "Our Beliefs" page.
It says,
"We believe......in those most basic freedoms of parliamentary democracy – the freedom of thought, worship, speech and association;
The other story which caught my eye today highlighting infringement of free speech was sportswriter Roy Master's column on the back page of the Sydney Morning Herald Nothing to gain from AFL's lead. There he reviews a few concepts which have been imported from the Australian Football League's top clubs to the National Rugby League's top clubs.
A couple of choice quotes from Masters' column:
"Since when does pulling on a pair of football boots mean losing your civil rights?"
"Since when does registering with the AFL involve surrendering the right to free speech? Doesn't the AFL derive most of its income from the media, including a $780 million contract for TV rights?"
Roy Masters referred to the disciplining by the Brisbane Lions Football Club of the star player Jason Akermanis for writing comments in his (Akermanis's) newspaper column which were construed as being critical of the club.
Masters makes some good points, however having a soapbox also confers some responsibilities on Akermanis and others. For example bloggers. Telling the whole truth about everything is not always the most appropriate course of action if commercial interests are involved when a commentator or blogger has undertaken to do his or her best to advance those commenrcial interests.
One of the real weaknesses of our system is the strict discipline imposed by the major parties. It stifles them, it stifles parliamentary debate and it means that only the careerists can be bothered being members
Posted by: Trevor Cook | Friday, 28 July 2006 at 14:38