The NZ Herald has an editorial about the case of Andrew Moore, a Christchurch-based political activist who has been warned by the Electoral Commission about his new “Don’t Vote Labour” website. Andy is reluctant to put his name and address on his site, citing concerns about his family. Fair enough. This is a crystal-clear example of the EFA muzzling free speech – freedom of speech includes not only the freedom to speak, but the freedom to refuse to speak. It may seem a minor imposition – although Moore is facing a $10,000 fine – but later this year we will inevitably see far worse. As the Herald says:

But it is on the web, a new frontier of attempted regulation, that Labour’s red tape will be most resented. The act’s restrictions on election material expressly exempts “the publication by an individual, on a non-commercial basis, on the internet of his or her personal political views … ”
Bloggers might have little difficulty fitting that definition but they will need to be aware that should their site acquire more than one author or, heaven forbid, make some money in some way from their political observations, the speech patrol could be down on them.
It is outrageous that they even need to concern themselves with such rules. When people come to wonder what has happened to a freedom they once took for granted, the answer is seldom a single, memorable edict. It is more often a hundred trifling rules, requirements and restrictions, each defensible within the logic of the law but together oppressive in their effect.

Thus, Pacific Empire is illegal. Why? Apparently we don’t count as a blog because we have multiple authors, and we aren’t non-commercial – this site is not for the purpose of profit, but I do receive a slight profit from Google Adsense once the cost of the domain name is subtracted (hosting is free thanks to a generous friend). And, of course, we frequently criticise the government and make statements such as “Vote Libertarianz” or “Don’t Vote Labour”.

I mean, thats outrageous. There should be a law against that sort of thing!

Ironically, Luke and I are not anonymous. There is enough information here for anyone to track down our names, address and phone numbers. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to comply with such retarded regulatory impositions, even by saying “this site authorised by…”

PS: There is also a Don’t Vote National website. In fact, I think it is far better than Don’t Vote Labour. Due to the vagaries of the electoral laws, however, it is entirely legal.

Posted by Phil on Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 at 12:41 pm.