Adventures in peaceful non-compliance Part 2 : Australian Census 2016 [Followup Visit]
No, I still won't comply
This is a followup to my earlier post "Adventures in peaceful non-compliance" from a month ago.
In the post I explained why I'm disobeying government orders to surrended private information about my family, in an insecure manner , just so they can sell it for profit to other private corporations .
Since that post we've seen a continued media scare campaign about fines and disinformation from the government about what exactly happens to the private data of most Aussies.
We've seen ongoing public education campaigns spreading the facts of the matter, and even motions in parliament to try and force the ABS to declare that nobody gets a fine, because the public have completely lost faith in the process and the ABS themselves.
I've had heaps of different letters, and signs that census workers had been to the door and left without even knocking (those lazy ninjas), but about 10 minutes ago I had my first little chat with the government employee turning up at my door, uninvited, again.
Freshly highlighted letter left just now
The "conversation"
To set the scene: I didn't see or hear him approach, and there weren't any unfamiliar vehicles nearby. It's late afternoon on a Sunday, its pissing down rain and the kids have been driving me insane for the last 6 hours already.
BANGBANGBANG - suddenly theres a stranger in a high-viz shirt with a clipboard peering in through my front door at me, looking impatient and annoyed.
Me: (through half closed door) "Hi."
Oldmate "Yes Hi I'm here to collect your census forms according to my records we don't have one for this household - do you have your form handy now ?"
Me "Oh I see, No I won't be participating in the census this year."
Oldmate (immediately scowling) "The census is mandatory you'll get a fine for every day you refuse to hand back the forms."
Me: "I don't have or want any form, I have serious privacy concerns with the way the census is being handled this year and I will not be participating."
Oldmate "And you're aware that you will be fined $180 per day until you submit the information ?" Me "I'm aware that you'll try. I have no reason to participate in this at all, and you have no authority to demand my participation. Plea-" Oldmate frowns and does a STOP hand signal with one hand whilst pushing his clipboard towards me again to try to make me step back from blocking the door I gave him a moment of obedience, and cut my sentence short just long enough for him to grin and continue his perceived "power move" Oldmate "We can and do fine people, if you're refusing to comply I'll need to know your na-" I mirrored his STOP hand signal abruptly, stepped forwards and began slowly closing the door Me "You're not listening, I'm not giving you any information. Please leave me and my family alone, you're not welcome here."
He stood there at my front door for a good 5 minutes, staring in and writing notes in his clipboard before dropping the above letter in my letterbox again anyway.
It was really kinda creepy, I think I pissed him off and he didn't know how to handle it professionally so his brain shutdown for a bit and just stared. In my yard. In the rain.
I just wish I'd managed to get a photo of that face. I'm sure it won't be the last time I see it.
Any doubts about if I was doing the right thing or not dissapeared moments later when I got an ABC Australia breaking news alert:
These are the people I'm supposed to take orders from, and self report to ?
Please see these other recent posts from myself and my partner @krystle
Written by @ausbitbank - If you found it interesting please see these:
@steemleak ~ steemface ~ steemviz ~ steemcap ~ steemUSD/sbdUSD indicator
Good on you mate :) - I just make up an utter load of crap and send the form back, which is a lot easier, but It's very cool that you are standing up to them.
I've been wondering about jury nullification on this. Could you ask for a jury trial? No way they're finding 12 people willing to put you away for it. I'm assuming they have ways to make sure it's all done by a magistrate though.
To even allude to jury nullification here seems to get you treated like a domestic terrorist. Tis a secret apparently
I hear you. I know there are jury trials here for criminal stuff, but I get the impression that anything remotely nullification-worthy conveniently goes in front of the magistrate instead.
I have to research this a little, but I heard recently that Hawke held a referendum in 1983, which would have enshrined the right to a jury trial, and 3 other topics. I'm not sure if they were a package deal or stood separately, but apparently it only got about 25% support.
So much Aussie history they didn't teach us in school.
Even though this whole thing was such a balls up, I'll be surprised if they don't send out fines... Hope I'm wrong though, good luck, and you'll have to let keep us posted on their next move.
Wouldn't surprise me if they attempt it, but theres still massive numbers of people refusing to do this .. Will keep steemit updated :)
Glad I found your blog ! Interesting stuff here !
This is so awesome and inspiring! I hope the government thugs don't make things too difficult for you. I'm following you now.
Cheers!
Thanks Seth! Following you back now too
hi @ausbitbank, just stopped back to let you know that you were one of my favourite reads today. You can read my comments about your post here
Aww thanks @shadowspub will check it out!
we were overseas when it (didn't) happen, so don't have the mess-around. The funny thing is any stats they pull for the year will have massive caveats against older censuses because they dicked it up so badly.
the gif ... so slow.. make me sneeze a bit!!! -rofl-
Ewww lol so gross but I keep watching
I agree with your right to disobey. My only concern is that not saying you but other people I've had this discussion with are happy to hand over most of this same info to enter a competition to win a holiday or join a gym.
That'd be an interesting promotion wouldn't it? Fill out this form for some crap or other or we'll beat you up and stick you in a cage or kill you for resisting.
L.OL at the get fucked gif
Spent a good while looking for something that really expresses my feelings :) Neat name, followed back