I was thinking about my Australian friend today…

Under the guise of public safety, social justice, and online harms, we see the rapid decline in freedom and civil rights in Australia while watching the government threaten the freedoms it is sworn to protect. Normally a plain-spoken, friendly collection of easy-going folks, we are seeing the population diluted by those whose agenda is antithetical to core Australian values.

1. Free Speech and Censorship

• Online Speech Regulation: The Online Safety Act, which grants the eSafety Commissioner broad powers to order the removal of harmful content, thus incentivizing government overreach and the suppression of legitimate expression.

• Hate Speech Laws: Australia's hate speech laws, particularly those under Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, have been used for stifling free speech. While intended to protect against racism, these laws are overly broad, making it difficult to discuss certain topics without fear of legal repercussions.

2. Surveillance and Privacy

• Mass Surveillance: Australia has expanded its surveillance capabilities through legislation like the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Act, which allows government agencies to compel tech companies to provide access to encrypted communications, undermining privacy and promoting abuse. Many note the rise of Communist Chinese-developed systems, procedures, and tactics in government operations.

3. Protest Rights

• Restrictions on Protests: Several Australian states have introduced laws that heavily penalize certain types of protests, particularly those related to environmental activism. For example, in New South Wales, new laws impose harsh penalties for protesters who disrupt public infrastructure, sparking concerns that the government is cracking down on civil disobedience.

4. Media Freedom

• Government Control and Media Suppression: Media freedom has come under pressure with raids on journalists' homes and offices over stories that embarrassed the government. The country's defamation laws are also seen as among the most restrictive in the world, leading to self-censorship and suppression of legitimate debate among journalists and the public.

5. Public Health and Civil Liberties

• COVID-19 Response: Australia implemented some of the strictest COVID-19 measures globally, including long lockdowns, curfews, and strict border controls. The enforcement of these measures, sometimes with heavy-handed police action that could be justly classified as government overreach and authoritarianism. Do not forget Howard Springs, originally a workers' camp for mining projects, that was repurposed as a government quarantine facility with prison-like guards, rules, and regulations and in which innocent civilians who were suspected of Covid exposure were denied their freedom—all under the guise of public health and safety.

6. Cultural and Academic Freedom

• University Policies and "Cancel Culture": Debates over freedom of speech on campuses have led to clashes between students, faculty, and administration. The fear of being "cancelled" or facing repercussions for unpopular opinions is contributing to a chilling effect on open debate.

Bottom line…

The rise of “woke” ideologies and multiculturalism as necessary steps toward a more equitable society is a disingenuous pretense to hide the growing rise of communism that is fast leading to a rapid erosion of fundamental freedoms and a loss of cultural identity.

The corrupt and malignant individuals of these so-called “woke” movements are gaslighting you into believing that they seek to address historical injustices, promote equality, create a more inclusive society, and build a fairer, more just society that respects the rights and identities of all citizens. It’s all bullshit! Bullshit meant to disguise their agenda to gain and maintain perpetual political power, as they openly create and impose arbitrary norms and limit free speech by stigmatizing dissenting opinions to suppress traditional values in favor of promoting the communist agenda under the guise of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To those not paying attention, equity is not the same as equality. Equity is communist wealth redistribution to produce equal outcomes rather than providing equal opportunity for individuals to use their talents to exploit equal opportunities.

It appears that many bamboozled Australians are sitting idly by while their government convinces an increasing number of its citizens to sign a secret suicide pact whose terms are only known to the elites who exempt themselves from the consequences of their actions.

There is no doubt that Australia is getting screwed—as we in America are when we lose one of our most trusted friends and allies.

-- Steve