Abbott wants to gag green info

Looks like the asylum seeker boats not being reported are just the tip of the iceberg, as the Abbott gov sets about it's agenda. If you think it's bad that we're going to be spoon feed gov crap about the boats instead of actual reporting in the media, then you're going to be bloody horrified at this one.

Take this as an example, Greenpeace's canned tuna guide telling consumers which ones are better to buy if you're concerned about the environment. Here's a snip from the link:

Abbott wants to make this illegal. Yes, seriously. He wants to gag green groups from targeting companies who don't behave very greenly in the production of their products. This would affect all groups of course who let consumers know the business practices of companies who trash the environment, such as GetUp and the like. In other words, he wants to make it illegal to tell consumers such information. Think I'm joking?

CONSERVATION groups seeking boycotts of products linked to alleged poor environmental practices may soon be liable for prosecution under consumer law.

The move, which could severely hamper market-based campaigns by groups such as Markets for Change and GetUp!, is to be pursued by the Abbott government.

Parliamentary secretary for agriculture Richard Colbeck told The Australian the move would prevent green groups from holding companies to ransom in their markets.

"We'll be looking at the way some of the environmental groups work because we are very concerned about some of the activities they conduct in the markets," Senator Colbeck said. "They have exemptions for secondary boycott activities under the Consumer and Competition Act. We are going to have a complete review of the act. - See more

This gov is starting to look like hard core economic extremists. It is the right of consumers surely to make informed decisions about what they buy. I myself have used the Greenpeace tuna guide when buying it at the supermarket, to get the most sustainable food possible. Why should I not be informed? Or are we simply to become corporate drones under Abbott? Kept in ignorance as we bow to corporations? 

Personally I doubt he has a hope in hell of getting this draconian legislation through the senate, so at the moment I'm not so concerned. What does concern me about it is  it's a clear indication of the intent of the Abbott gov; mainly that climate change is bullshit, fuck the greenies, companies need to be able to make a profit even when they're killing the environment, and like the boats don't tell anyone when they do. 

On the other side we have The Wilderness Society, one of the green groups that would be targeted by Abbott's legislation. They've wasted no time and have already put up a response online. Here it is in it's entirety:

Gagging free information will hurt business 

The Federal Government’s proposal to silence non-government organisations from briefing consumers about environmental credentials of companies and products will be counterproductive, the Wilderness Society said today. 

Parliamentary secretary for agriculture Richard Colbeck announced moves yesterday to try to stop groups from being active in the marketplace. 

“It’s an odd move by a pro-free market government to try to protect businesses from consumers receiving credible information about their products,” said Wilderness Society National Director Lyndon Schneiders. 

“Companies should not be operating in a free market if they need government protection from credible information. 

“Government can’t protect companies who don’t have a social licence, as was witnessed with the spectacular collapse of one-time logging giant Gunns Limited in Tasmania. 

“Markets for a whole host of products have wised up to unethical and unsustainable production practices and make their own decisions in relation to purchases and the preferences of consumers. 

“Discerning markets care about their purchases and often rely on third-party assessment and commentary to make their decisions - whether its demands are sweat-shop free, cruelty free, fair trade, non-genetically modified or environmentally sustainable.
 
“This is a wrong-headed action by the new government and will not benefit the private sector. Instead it will make martyrs out of advocates and pariahs out of companies seeking to cover up the true environmental footprint of their products. 

“Environment groups play an important role in informing markets and in some cases, such as with the Tasmanian Forest Agreement, have an explicit obligation to keep customers of Tasmanian forest products updated with information. 

“Markets expect high environmental standards and free and fair flows of information and will be increasingly sceptical of governments that impose new laws that constrain communications.” link