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FACTS BEHIND THE NEWS
Intimidation Tactics by Government Departments
Inappropriate Police Behaviour
A Panel of 4 to 6 people with an MC to conduct a 24 min debate in real time on controversial issues behind the news headlines that affect the community on day to day basis.
The crew would consist of two or three cameramen, post production editor, a producer doubling as production manager and sound engineer.
Propose to put together 13 episodes in Season 1 commencing production in July 2009 with option for second season in 2010. Post production completed and ready for broadcast in late August, early September 2009.
Controversial Issues
The topics listed below are on suggested topics and are subject to availability of panel members and whether more topical subject matter arises during production, such as ‘the truth behind swine flu?’ or ‘Is global warming real?’
Do parking fines negatively affect sales in suburban shopping strips by deterring customers or diverting them to shopping complexes? What right do councils have to charge for the public to park on public land? Methods used by council to enforce fines often heavy handed. re: McDonalds Church St. "City of Yarra will enforce private fines on the property"
Panel: Reps from Chamber of Commerce, Retail Traders Association, Council, lawyer.
Speeding kills but at what speed are you are danger on the road or just a target for government revenue raising? How accurate are speed cameras and the car speedo? What are your rights and do police circumvent those rights? Do present rules promote road safety or in fact create dangerous drivers.
Panel: Reps from Police Traffic Control, campaigner against excessive road rules, lawyer, civil rights rep.
Given the current world economic crisis is money the root of all economic evil? What models have been tried in the past that did not involve money? (Tally Sticks, break away models) Why did they fail? Did any succeed? What lessons could be learnt from their failures and successes?
Panel: Reps from Banks, Chamber of Commerce, Economic Historians.
Do viable forms of alternative energy exist? If so why are they being suppressed? Why not give everyone a water tank instead of building dams and laying pipes?
Panel: Greenpeace, Government spokesperson, inventors, researcher.
5. ECONOMIC MODELS – THE FUTURE?
Is a moneyless society realistic? How would it work? Does global capitalism by its nature snuff out moneyless models? Our current economic model does not work, it rapes the planet, overfeeds half the world and starves the other, all in the name of corporate growth, is this model sustainable long term? Can we have endless compounding growth with unlimited resources? Are we developing a race of slaves to debt?
Panel: Reps from Banks, Chamber of Commerce, Economist, Greenpeace.
Why do we need a Bill of Rights? Why are governments reluctant to give us a Bill of Rights? Are the Victorian and ACT Bills really protect our rights? What links do we have historically to British Bill of Rights and Magna Carta? Why don’t we adopt the UN Universal Bill of Rights? What is importance of Australian Constitution Preamble?
Panel: One or Two Civil Rights Barristers, a Civil Rights Campaigner, a government rep from Attorney Generals Office.
Do we have a right to a car given its so important to getting to work? What is the definition of registration? What right has government to refuse registration? Can you register privately?
Panel: Vic Roads, Police, Lawyer, Civil rights campaigner.
8. INTIMIDATION TACTICS BY GOVT DEPTS
Why is it necessary for Infringement Notices and Enforcement Orders to be worded as threats? How accurate are these threats or are they couched in misleading and deceptive wording? What rights do you have to demand proof of offence from the police in regard to Traffic Offences? Who ensures that police and other enforcement agencies do not intimidate or mislead the public?
Panel: Reps from Traffic Control, Perrin Court, Lawyers, Civil Liberty groups
The Australian Constitution places the ultimate power in the hands of the people but few people understand what that means or how to exercise that power. Is civil disobedience a right? If so under what circumstances? How do you make governments listen? Do petitions work?
Panel: Civil rights campaigners, Civil Rights Barrister, Constitutional QC.
We are told our roads are grid locked but five State Government plans have failed. Internationally new freeways are considered to only compound the problem. Does the answer lie in better traffic flow? Less red lights, more discretion to drivers? What does a red light mean, stop until its green or until its safe? Are we over controlled on roads?
Panel: Traffic Flow Expert, Vic Roads, Government rep.
Why are the numbers of people in prison rising faster than the population growth rate? Why do more than 60% of offenders re-offend while the international standard is 30%? Are we unlawfully imprisoning people to keep arrest statistics up? Are police abusing their power of arrest? Should we have Miranda Rights in Australia?
Panel: Victims of unlawful arrest, Police Commissioner, Civil Rights Campaigner.
12. INAPPROPRIATE POLICE BEHAVIOUR
Victorian Police motto is “Uphold the Right”, do police respect the public they are employed to serve? Do we have too many young immature police with guns throwing their weight around without the presence of older wiser heads? What is the police culture?
Panel: Ex-police officer, rep from Office of Police Integrity, Civil Rights Campaigner, Police Commissioner.
Why should lawyers have the monopoly on defending you in court? You have a right to defend yourself but if you are intimidated by public speaking you are disadvantaged but you cannot bring in a friend to help? What is a McKenzie’s friend? What obligations does a judge have to assist you in your defence?
Panel: Advocate to break monopoly, Judge, Law Institute.
In the twentieth century we had three pandemics, in 1918 we had the Spanish Flu that killed in excess of 30 million people including 675,000 Americans. In 1957 a second pandemic killed 70,000 Americans. In 1968, a third killed 33,000 Americans. In the 21st century, Avian flu in 2003 killed 257 world wide but no Americans. SARS in 2002 killed 774 worldwide mostly in China and Hong Kong and killed no Americans. Is swine flu a real threat when normal flu kills 36,000 Americans every year and 2,500 Australians?
Panel: Health Dept, Immunology experts.