10 July 2008
Australian sedition laws revisited
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While no-one has been convicted of sedition in Australia since 1951, the crime of inciting rebellion against a government was given new impetus in 2005 when the Howard government strengthened anti-terrorism laws and revamped the crime of sedition. At the time the legislation created concern within Australia's arts community, particularly among writers, who feared the new measures could restrict freedom of expression. Before the last election the then shadow Arts Minister, Peter Garrett, told The Book Show that if Labor were elected the new government would move immediately to repeal the sedition laws. So far the legislation is still in place and writers and artists continue to be concerned.
Guests
Stephen Sewell
Australian playwright and screen writer
Tamara Winikoff
Executive Director of the National Association for the Visual Arts
Arts advocate and cultural commentator
Presenter
Ramona Koval
Producer
James Panichi
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