Adelaide, Capital of the State of South Australia, is stricken by a controversy during the State election campaign. During an election period, "a person must not 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 of a person who takes responsability for the publication of the material".
Concerned website must keep all information identifying a person who take the responsability for the publication for a period of six months after the end of the election period.
The Bill is supported by the two major Australian parties, labour (left) and the Liberal Party (right). After several days of controversy, South Australia’s Attorney-General Michael Atkinson admits he misjudged public opinion on the state’s attempt to curb political comment on the internet.
More information:
- Opposition unite to gag internet election debate (Adelaidenow.com)
- South Australia backs down on Internet comment curb (Infowars)
