STOP PRESS - Atkinson backflips in last hour

[Squawk]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/victory-atkinson-loosens-gag/story-fn2sdwup-1225826104175
Victory! Atkinson loosens gag DEREK PEDLEY From: The Advertiser February 02, 2010 10:30PM

ATTORNEY-GENERAL Michael Atkinson last night made a "humiliating" backdown and said he would retrospectively repeal his law censoring internet comment on the state election.
At 10pm, he released a statement to The Advertiser saying: " From the feedback we've received through AdelaideNow, the blogging generation believes that the law supported by all MPs and all political parties is unduly restrictive. I have listened.

"I will immediately after the election move to repeal the law retrospectively.

"It may be humiliating for me, but that's politics in a democracy and I'll take my lumps. This way, no one need fear now that they are being censored on the net or in blogs, whether they blog under their own name or anonymously. The law will be repealed retrospectively.

"I call upon all the other political parties who supported this review to also review their position."

No mention about a backflip on an ICAC tho. 1200 anonymous comments on AdelaideNow is all it takes to get a pollie to backflip these days it seems.

[Barto]

The five people who read the site have worked hard all day clearing their cookies

[southee]

As John Lennon sang..... "POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!"

The damage is done for Labour. What a "balls up!!"

[Jimmy_041]

He really is a piece of work and hopefully we will soon see the last of him.

Jimmy_041
5041

[Gozu]

As I suspected this was about making sure they just win this election. What's in store after that? Maybe just slip this inside Conroy's internet filter then? Nah no dice, Atkinson.

[dedja]

=

[mick]

If Rann had any balls he'd sack this bloke. One small problem parliament has been disolved, this draconian law can't be repealed until parliament re-sits after the March election. As Gozu says Atkinson has done this back flip to win office. Will he stick to his word if the ALP is re-elected as the polls suggest will happen?

[Wedgie]

What an absolute peanut but at least the end result is a good one.

[Interceptor]

More humiliation for Atkinson:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/mike-meet-aaron-he-lives-500m-from-your-office/story-e6frea6u-1225826082741

[Psyber]

The five people who read the site have worked hard all day clearing their cookies

The Opera browser has a "Delete all cookies on exit" setting, which I use routinely.
It saves log in details in a separate, more secure, form.

[redandblack]

I said it was bad legislation and I said I wouldn't comply.

It was obvious from the start that nobody would ever be prosecuted under that law.

Remember, though, that all parties voted for it. The Liberals now say they were 'misled'.

Easily misled, then.

[Sojourner]

I said it was bad legislation and I said I wouldn't comply.

It was obvious from the start that nobody would ever be prosecuted under that law.

Remember, though, that all parties voted for it. The Liberals now say they were 'misled'.

Easily misled, then.

I am surprised that the Greens would then vote for that?

[redandblack]

The legislation in itself is fairly mundane stuff.

It's only when the consequences were realised, thanks to Michael Atkinson's stupidity, that it became contentious.

[Jimmy_041]

I said it was bad legislation and I said I wouldn't comply.

It was obvious from the start that nobody would ever be prosecuted under that law.

Remember, though, that all parties voted for it. The Liberals now say they were 'misled'.

Easily misled, then.

Decided take the Atkinson line r&b? - he's trying to distribute the blame as well - maybe they just let him make another complete stuff up, but I doubt it. Atkinson wrote and introduced the legislation, and from his comments, knew exactly where he was heading with it. His mate Rann would have known as well. They dont like forums because they cant control them with their media machine.

BUT, one thing the other parties DIDN'T do, was say this:

The AdelaideNow website is not just a sewer of criminal defamation, it is a sewer of identity theft and fraud … There is no impinging on freedom of speech, people are free to say what they wish as themselves, not as somebody else … I am also certain that Advertiser Newspapers and News Limited will punish me personally, viciously for being the attorney-general responsible for this law … You will publish false stories about me, invent things about me to punish me.

At least, Atkinson is one of the better students of defamation.....he has had to quickly learn it from his defence counsel!!!

The last line is interesting - is there a skeleton in the closet bursting to get out?

Jimmy_041
5041

[redandblack]

Taking the Atkinson line, Jimmy? You're kidding

I thought I have said I wouldn't comply with it, it was bad legislation and that Atkinson was stupid. Hardly taking the Atkinson line to point out the fact that all parties voted for it and the Libs now say they were misled.

All factual.

As for Adelaide Now, I tend to agree with his description of it. I gave up reading it long ago.

His last line is a reference to a recent event, which was posted on here also as fact, which appears to have beeen subsequently shown as a total fabrication. I'm not surprised he said what he said.

His judgement on this matter has been appalling, as I pointed out right from the start. Some of us are happy to point out faults on both sides of politics.

[Jimmy_041]

I didn't say you agreed with it r&b, but "everyone else egged me on so I did it" doesn't diminish the fact that it was HIS legislation and he knew exactly what it was intended to do.

(Must be boring as bat shit having to go through every bit of legislation picking out the good and bad bits - glad I dont have to do it)

Loved the fact Rann's spokesperson (he couldn't say it himself) said that "Premier Mike Rann supported the Attorney-General" Well that does it for me - his word is gospel. He really does believe his own publicity. Anyone told him he's paying for people to say that he's the second coming?

If the adage is true that a government loses power and the other side doesn't win it, Rann & Co are well down that path...... I just hope they keep talking!!!!

<Edit> oops sorry.......

Jimmy_041
5041

[Jimmy_041]

Taking the Atkinson line, Jimmy? You're kidding

I thought I have said I wouldn't comply with it, it was bad legislation and that Atkinson was stupid. Hardly taking the Atkinson line to point out the fact that all parties voted for it and the Libs now say they were misled.

All factual.

As for Adelaide Now, I tend to agree with his description of it. I gave up reading it long ago.

His last line is a reference to a recent event, which was posted on here also as fact, which appears to have beeen subsequently shown as a total fabrication. I'm not surprised he said what he said.

His judgement on this matter has been appalling, as I pointed out right from the start. Some of us are happy to point out faults on both sides of politics.

"Cogito, ergo sum" or did you forget to add the

[redandblack]

Not at all, you just have to read this thread (and some others) to accept that.

Believe it or not, you'd probably be struggling to find too many threads (if any) I've started that are pro the State Government.

[Jimmy_041]

and, likewise, you wont find any of me praising the Liberal Party

[redandblack]

Ah, but I will find you posting very regular anti-Labor stories