Tasmania's dirty bunyip not the last

Renai LeMay
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 06:40

IT Policy - Regulation

OPINION: The news last week that Tasmania, like South Australia, had a ridiculous law hidden away that demanded all online election commentary be attached to a street address was rightfully met with the predictable outrage.

Digital Tasmania and various civil liberties groups had their say, pointing out the 'sheer impracticality' of the rule, and various politicians and pundits weighed in. Notable for his enthusiasm was one Tassie resident, known online only as @iBleeter, whose blog and Twitter account was pretty much a one-man demolition of the law and politicians' antiquated views of it.

Predictable also was the reactions of various state politicians to the '” dare we say, 'silly' '” regulation. My personal favourite was a short segment where it seemed several politicians '” representing the Liberal and Greens parties '” told a Stateline questioner the law should be upheld.

Righty-oh-then.

'Absolutely,' said Liberal MP Brett Whitely. 'That would be my view. My personal, strong view.' And Greens MP Cassy O'Connor backed him to the hilt. 'We are in a new age where you have new media. but it's really important, particularly in an election climate, that there's a transparency about the debate,' she said.

I'd like to see the good MPs try and explain to Facebook or Twitter how they should force all Taswegians '” and just Taswegians '” to include a street address on any posts which mention the state election. Jeez, that would really bust the 140 character limit.

Or maybe an automated WordPress plugin that would link in to the White Pages directory?