Y2K disaster law given go-ahead [Australia]

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

Apologies if this has already been posted.

http://technology.news.com.au/news/4241002.htm

[Fair use/educational purposes]

THE Victorian Government is going it alone with far-reaching Year 2000 emergency legislation that suspends parts of the state constitution.

Other states and territories have no plans to invoke similar legislation, believing existing laws will be sufficient to cover any problems.

Only the ACT is adding to existing emergency laws. A general-purpose Emergency Management Bill currently before the ACT Assembly includes provisions for "major and systemic technological failure".

The Victorian move comes after the Longford gas explosion last year revealed Victoria's disaster provisions to be outdated.

The laws go beyond existing emergency measures by giving the Government extraordinary powers to deal with any computer-related breakdown in vital infrastructure.

The Bracks Government last week introduced the Essential Services (Year 2000) Bill to ensure it is fully equipped to deal with unforeseen emergency issues.

The Victorian law will give ministers "power to give directions to any person for the purpose of maintaining or resuming essential services".

Orders could include rationing or restricting access to anything declared an essential service by Victorian Governor Sir James Gobbo.

"In addition, there will be tough enforcement provisions to punish persons or corporations who feel their own needs to be more important than those of their fellow Victorians," Transport Minister Peter Batchelor told Parliament.

The Longford explosion showed the lack of suitable emergency powers in Victoria, Mr Batchelor said.

A clause in the Bill will amend the state constitution to prevent court action against any person "acting in good faith" under the Y2K law.

While conceding some people may believe the emergency powers "are so broad as to be draconian", Mr Batchelor said private and public sector groups have had opportunity to ensure Y2K readiness and undertake contingency planning.

The legislation is expected to be passed early next month. A June 30, 2001, sunset clause is included.

[url]www.vic.gov.au[/url]

[url]www.year2000.gov.au[/url]

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), November 28, 1999

Answers

Sorry, here are those links: www.vic.gov.au and www.year2000.gov.au. Thought I'd try UBB code--won't do that again.

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), November 28, 1999.

Once the Aussies surrendered the right to keep and bear arms they paved the way for any number of government tyranies.The people have only themselves to blame for being duped by anti-gun demagoguery.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), November 28, 1999.

I like the Milne approach: if someone who has not prepared asks for a meal, by all means feed them; if a bunch of thugs under authority of the government come to "re-allocate the resources", burn the provisions if you have to, to prevent the mob from taking them.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), November 28, 1999.

It doesn't sound like those who prepared will be harrassed. It seems to be more aimed at those who will be violating future rationing which none of the prepared did. The ole going through the line 7 times to get past rationing.

I think, and could be very wrong on this, Australia is looking at the majority herd activating enmass with the behavior of animals, and is setting itself up to intimidate them down. It is looking at the male syndrome of shoving aside the women and children looking out for number one.

One thing to remember about these stockpiles and I'm sure Australia is aware of it, is that the storage is often in violation of public health laws outside of private consumtion. Think of the stockpiles in home basements where rats have been noticed. One can have that food oneself, but a government cannot under any circumstances pass food from such conditions to the populace. Or as in my case, rescue animals scrambling over it all.

I do think where ever one is one needs to be very discreet, if one is called upon to voluntarily turn over ones stash (It won't happen due to health laws) do not do so, do not feel so afraid of the mobs that one cows down into a sudden burst of Florence Nightingale, and consider the possibility that Australia is playing a fast move in disinformation tactics. It wants people to think "Y2K" would be a short term "emergency." It isn't. It's going to be chronic hyperinflation I suspect. No "gobmint" is passing anything out in such a chronic scenario because it is The New Way Of Life that everyone has to accept. Thus, it has Australians believing it'd be two weeks of utter misery and chronic hunger NOT the potential reality that it is 18 months!

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 28, 1999.


uh-oh...

"In addition, there will be tough enforcement provisions to punish persons or corporations who feel their own needs to be more important than those of their fellow Victorians," Transport Minister Peter Batchelor told Parliament.

you know what that means... if you have food it becomes everyones food or you go to jail.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 28, 1999.



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