The Government wants the data stored so it can be used in criminal and anti-terrorism investigations.
The plans, first mooted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Attorney-General George Brandis in August, would lead to telcos and ISPs being forced to gather and store much more information than they currently do, at significant by undetermined expense.
Today’s demonstration will be led by three Senators – The Greens’ Scott Ludlam, independent Nick Xenophon, and libertarian David Leyonhjelm (pictured, left to right).
They have issued a joint statement:
The Australian Greens, the Liberal Democratic Party and Senator Nick Xenophon will hold a briefing session at Parliament House on the legislation, which will see phone, email and internet records kept on all 23 million Australians for a period of at least two years.
Several dozen groups will join the Senators to voice their concerns about the legislation. Attending organisations and others who are not able to attend will be invited to add their support to a letter to Attorney-General George Brandis and Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, expressing ongoing concerns with the proposed data retention policy.
The legislation was expected to be introduced on 29 October but, as yet, not been listed for Senate debate. This broad cross-section of political, civil society and industry voices demonstrate the depth of opposition to this flawed and unnecessary proposals."
The current list of attendees:
Senator Leyonhjelm, Senator Xenophon, Electronic Frontiers Australia, Pirate Party Australia, Blueprint for Free Speech, Civil Liberties Australia, Internet Society of Australia, Institute of Public Affairs, Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, the Law Council of Australia, Liberty Victoria, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, the Australian Privacy Foundation, iiNet, the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, ThoughtWorks, the Communications Alliance and the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network.
More information here.
