Stuart Anderson

I think that it is unfortunate that the Government is killing the blog off - especially as it clearly was performing to it's stated aims - to get feedback from the Australian public. It's obvious that this exercise was intended to be one in PR that backfired badly. You can hardly ask people for input about your unpopular policy and then be shocked when you aren't being showered with roses. If you can't handle criticism, then don't *specifically* ask for it. All in all, a progressive idea, implemented in a clumsy fashion, and killed by people who didn't expect it to become anything other than a vehicle to push their own agenda. It's just another example of politicians who refuse to act honestly and in good faith. Not surprising, but still depressingly disappointing. killing off a public forum for people to speak out, mere days after claiming that the ISP censorship plan wasn't about curtailing free speech - that speaks volumes about how the Government would use the filter to suppress politically dissenting views. We simply cannot trust this Government - this isn't a hypothetical scenario, they've just censored free speech on their own blog. It's not scaremongering, it's a fact, it's happened. The Government clearly holds the people of Australia in contempt, I believe it's only fair we return that sentiment.