The Surveillance Bill That Changes Everything
A 3 prong attack on freedom, privacy from Albanese, this third prong - Surveillance Legislation Bill 2024 sets a precedent for legalising illegal actions of the Australian Government
(I apologise if this post doesn’t reflect our normal subject matter, but only over the last few years have we been able to speak and be heard about the removal and transitioning of Australian minors. Bills that may shut our voices down, must be exposed.)
The Surveillance Legislation (Confirmation of Application) Bill 2024 Explained
Today, I want to shine a light on another piece of legislation that has been quietly moving through Parliament—The Surveillance Legislation (Confirmation of Application) Bill 2024. This bill is under the radar, it may not have grabbed headlines, but its implications for privacy, democracy, and the rule of law are profound.
It’s not just about surveillance—it’s about retroactively legalizing actions that may have been unlawful and setting a dangerous precedent for government overreach. Let’s break this down so everyone—citizens and lawmakers alike—understands what’s at stake.
1. What Is This Bill About?
The Surveillance Legislation (Confirmation of Application) Bill 2024 was introduced to address surveillance activities carried out during 'Operation Ironside,' a major investigation targeting organized crime. It retroactively legalises certain actions by law enforcement, including:
Covert surveillance,
Computer access warrants, and
Physical raids conducted between 2018 and 2021.
The bill aims to ensure that evidence gathered during these operations is considered lawful, even if it violated existing laws at the time.
2. Why Is This Concerning?
This bill raises several red flags:
Retroactive Legalization:
The government is essentially saying, 'If the law wasn’t followed, we’ll change it after the fact.' Retroactive laws undermine trust in the rule of law and erode accountability.Illegally Obtained Evidence Becomes Legal:
Evidence that might otherwise have been inadmissible in court—because it was gathered unlawfully—is now protected. This creates a precedent where governments can break the law and then rewrite the rules to cover their tracks.Targets of Surveillance:
The surveillance operations didn’t just target organized crime—they also targeted:Google’s Australian HQ,
Amazon AWS offices, and
The legal representatives of these companies.
Targeting legal representatives undermines attorney-client privilege, a cornerstone of our legal system.
3. What Are the Broader Implications?
If passed alongside other initiatives like the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 and the TEx initiative, this bill becomes part of a larger system that threatens our freedoms.
Privacy: With retroactive legalization of surveillance, combined with digital ID requirements and centralized data, there will be little to no privacy left for citizens.
Democracy: When governments can rewrite laws to excuse past behavior, it creates an imbalance of power, diminishing trust in democratic institutions.
Free Speech: Surveillance without checks and balances can be weaponized against dissenting voices, whistleblowers, and even opposition parties.
4. Why You Should Care
This isn’t just about organized crime or big tech companies—it’s about all of us. Here’s why:
Loss of Legal Protections: If the government can surveil anyone, retroactively legalize it, and make the evidence admissible, no one is safe.
Precedent for Future Abuse: Today it’s 'Operation Ironside.' Tomorrow, it could be used to target journalists, activists, or political opposition.
Erosion of Accountability: This bill allows the government to act outside the law and retroactively avoid consequences.
These are not hypothetical risks. These are the real dangers of creating a surveillance system with no meaningful oversight.
5. Call to Action
This bill demands scrutiny, and you have the power to act:
To Liberals: Speak up and demand a thorough review of this legislation. Hold the government accountable and ensure that it cannot retroactively legalize actions that violate the rule of law.
To the General Public: Share this video, contact your local MP, and ask them to oppose this bill. Our privacy, democracy, and legal protections depend on it.
To Advocates for Freedom: Support organizations fighting for digital rights and demand transparency from lawmakers.
The Surveillance Legislation (Confirmation of Application) Bill 2024 is more than just a legal clarification—it’s a further shift towards tolatarianism in how our government approaches privacy, accountability, and democracy.
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