Comments on: The Freezing of Free Speech http://www.reputationreport.com.au/2009/07/the-freezing-of-free-speech/ Information - Insight - Influence Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:17:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kingsley Flett http://www.reputationreport.com.au/2009/07/the-freezing-of-free-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Kingsley Flett Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:35:49 +0000 http://www.reputationreport.com.au/?p=237#comment-32 Hi again - good news. Almost without warning on Thursday I recieved notification that the WA DPP had ofered to lift the freeze order on my bank accounts and pay my court costs - so it's all over. Bit of an anti-climax really. I'm still pretty angry though. When I decided to fight this through the supreme court I got a idea of what the worst possible outcome would cost me financially decided I could live with that and then pressed on. The acceptance of, and planning for, losing up to $50,000 made it les stressfull for me. My parents and family have been far more worried however and it makes me think not-too-fondly of a few indvidials within the WA DPP who decided to pursue this action. I can only hope that they one day have to go through a similiar experience..... Hi again – good news. Almost without warning on Thursday I recieved notification that the WA DPP had ofered to lift the freeze order on my bank accounts and pay my court costs – so it’s all over. Bit of an anti-climax really.

I’m still pretty angry though. When I decided to fight this through the supreme court I got a idea of what the worst possible outcome would cost me financially decided I could live with that and then pressed on. The acceptance of, and planning for, losing up to $50,000 made it les stressfull for me. My parents and family have been far more worried however and it makes me think not-too-fondly of a few indvidials within the WA DPP who decided to pursue this action. I can only hope that they one day have to go through a similiar experience…..

]]> By: Kingsley Flett http://www.reputationreport.com.au/2009/07/the-freezing-of-free-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Kingsley Flett Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:03:21 +0000 http://www.reputationreport.com.au/?p=237#comment-31 The matter is due to go before the WA supreme court again on November 4, where my legal counsel will be arguing to have the matter completely set aside. We argue that this action, while falling under the strict definition of the act, could never have been part of it's original intention. My accounts are still frozen and I have currently accrued legal bills over $12,000. If I lose my case it is possible that I will also have to meet the DPP's court costs. So I will not only lose my royalties but have to pay a further $30-40,000. Anyone who wishes to add their voice to the many who are concerned about this can write to the WA premier, Mr Colin Barnett 24th Floor Governor Stirling Tower 197 St Georges Terrace Perth, WA 6000 or better still, write a letter to the west australian newspaper letters@wanews.com.au I don't expect public opinion to sway the judge - but the beauracrats who take this sort of action like to sneak under the guard of public opinion and we need to show them what we think. It might not save me but they'll think twice before trying it again. The matter is due to go before the WA supreme court again on November 4, where my legal counsel will be arguing to have the matter completely set aside. We argue that this action, while falling under the strict definition of the act, could never have been part of it’s original intention.

My accounts are still frozen and I have currently accrued legal bills over $12,000. If I lose my case it is possible that I will also have to meet the DPP’s court costs. So I will not only lose my royalties but have to pay a further $30-40,000.

Anyone who wishes to add their voice to the many who are concerned about this can write to the WA premier,

Mr Colin Barnett
24th Floor
Governor Stirling Tower
197 St Georges Terrace
Perth, WA 6000

or better still, write a letter to the west australian newspaper

letters@wanews.com.au

I don’t expect public opinion to sway the judge – but the beauracrats who take this sort of action like to sneak under the guard of public opinion and we need to show them what we think. It might not save me but they’ll think twice before trying it again.

]]> By: editor http://www.reputationreport.com.au/2009/07/the-freezing-of-free-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-30 editor Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:21:51 +0000 http://www.reputationreport.com.au/?p=237#comment-30 Kingsley, good to hear from you and well said. Can you update us as to what the situation is today? Are you accounts still frozen? Has the matter been dropped or progressing through courts? Kingsley, good to hear from you and well said.

Can you update us as to what the situation is today? Are you accounts still frozen? Has the matter been dropped or progressing through courts?

]]> By: Kingsley Flett http://www.reputationreport.com.au/2009/07/the-freezing-of-free-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Kingsley Flett Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:05:42 +0000 http://www.reputationreport.com.au/?p=237#comment-29 Hi - thanks for highlighting this issue. We should all be making as much noise about this as possible for a few reasons, the obvious attack on free speech being the main one. But it goes a bit deeper than that. We know, and usually accept, that government is as much about giving the illusion of doing the job as much as it is about actually doing the job well - some would say that this 'Yes Minister' philosophy pervades the coporate world as well. But my assets being frozen is a particularly dangerous exanple of it. One of the major champions of the asset siezure laws has been former WA Attourney General Jim McGinty. He was often quoted on how it served as a deterrent. This is not only wrong from a criminal behavior point of view (it's well established that the primary deterrent to crime is the percieved probability of getting caught)but the implementation of this law diverts resources away from what does deter crime -a well resourced and well trained police force. I wonder how many elderly people have suffered home invasions because of the lack of effective police presence? Speaking of home invasions - when the government suddenly freezes your bank accounts without warning. This is precisely how it feels. Like someone has come into your home and taken something that you worked hard for. t's a life changing experience and I will never think the same of the authorities again. Do not trust these people. Hi – thanks for highlighting this issue. We should all be making as much noise about this as possible for a few reasons, the obvious attack on free speech being the main one.

But it goes a bit deeper than that. We know, and usually accept, that government is as much about giving the illusion of doing the job as much as it is about actually doing the job well – some would say that this ‘Yes Minister’ philosophy pervades the coporate world as well. But my assets being frozen is a particularly dangerous exanple of it.

One of the major champions of the asset siezure laws has been former WA Attourney General Jim McGinty. He was often quoted on how it served as a deterrent. This is not only wrong from a criminal behavior point of view (it’s well established that the primary deterrent to crime is the percieved probability of getting caught)but the implementation of this law diverts resources away from what does deter crime -a well resourced and well trained police force. I wonder how many elderly people have suffered home invasions because of the lack of effective police presence?

Speaking of home invasions – when the government suddenly freezes your bank accounts without warning. This is precisely how it feels. Like someone has come into your home and taken something that you worked hard for. t’s a life changing experience and I will never think the same of the authorities again. Do not trust these people.

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