SA Footy

The law will apply as soon as the writs for the March 20 election are issued. The writs for the election can be issued any time between now and 25 days before the election.
The law will then lapse at 6pm on polling day.

Psyber wrote:While it sounds draconian, it may not be as unreasonable as it first sounds if it applies only for the short time between the issue of writs and the actual poll.
It would tend to curb the extreme social subversives, right and left, and cut the costs to the parties of keeping their own paid propagandists on duty 24/7...

The law will apply as soon as the writs for the March 20 election are issued. The writs for the election can be issued any time between now and 25 days before the election.
The law will then lapse at 6pm on polling day.

But, I'm glad the yahoo based email address I use every time I make public comment points to a totally fictitious person at a totally fictitious address.
The site can hand over my details on record without any concern that it is doing me a disservice, or that the local KGB equivalent will whisk me off to a camp somewhere, without having to do some major work to find me...

Wedgie wrote:R&b, can you point out where details of the legislation can be viewed please?
If it's only selected websites then that would make the law even worse IMHO as it would be discrimatory.

PS I can assure you that you would comply as the politics forum would be closed.

Wedgie wrote:R&b, can you point out where details of the legislation can be viewed please?
If it's only selected websites then that would make the law even worse IMHO as it would be discrimatory.

PS I can assure you that you would comply as the politics forum would be closed.

116—Published material to identify person responsible for political content
(1) A person must not, during an election period, publish material consisting of, or containing a commentary on, any candidate or political party, or the issues being submitted to electors, in written form, in a journal published in electronic form on the Internet or by radio or television or broadcast on the Internet, unless the material or the programme in which the material is presented contains a statement of the name and address (not being a post office box) of a person who takes responsibility for the publication of the material.
Maximum penalty:
(a) if the offender is a natural person—$1 250;
(b) if the offender is a body corporate—$5 000.
(2) This section does not apply to—
(a) the publication in a journal (including a journal published in electronic form on the Internet) of a leading article;
(b) the publication of a report of a meeting that does not contain any comment (other than comment made by a speaker at the meeting) on any candidate, or political party, or the issues being submitted to electors;
(c) the publication in a journal (including a journal published in electronic form on the Internet) of an article, letter, report or other matter if—
(i) the name and address (not being a post office box) of a person who takes responsibility for the publication of the material is provided to the publisher of the journal and retained by the publisher for a period of 6 months after the end of the election period; and
(ii) the journal contains a statement of the name and postcode of the person who takes responsibility for the publication of the material;
(ca) the publication of a letter (otherwise than as described in paragraph (c)) that contains the name and address (not being a post office box) of the author of the letter;
(d) a news service or a current affairs programme on radio or television or broadcast on the Internet;
(e) any other prescribed material or class of material.
(3) In this section—
journal means a newspaper, magazine or other periodical.

fish wrote:Can anonymous comments made prior to the issue of writs remain on this forum during the campaign?