I would assume that some are not aware that a few dozen organisations already have access to journalists metadata, and that the main reason for this debate (now submerged in political twaddle) is the requirement that metadata be stored for a minimum of 2 years.
A3 :"George Brandis says he has no intention of using the metadata Bill to pursue journalists. If he means what he says, then the answer is simple — he should exempt journalists from the proposals or at least follow the British lead and require any investigation involving a journalist and his or her contacts to be approved in advance by a judge."
Research!
ABR Legal Affairs Editor
Excerpts from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/george-brandis-benchmark-test-of-metadata-compromise/...
18March
Brandis told Lateline’s Emma Alberici in May 2013: “I’m a supporter of shield laws. In fact, I’m the author of the commonwealth’s shield laws.”
By accepting this week that access to journalists’ metadata should require a warrant instead of mere approval by a senior policeman or agency official, Brandis has begun moving his metadata retention bill closer to the procedure outlined in the shield law that now forms part of the Evidence Act.
"As things stand, there has been no suggestion that judges considering metadata warrants will be asked to consider whether the public interest in unmasking a source outweighs the adverse impact on that person.
Nor would a judge be required to consider the public interest in the communication of information to the public — another provision from the shield law.
A3: "Christopher Pyne should go as Education Minister, suggests University of Canberra's Stephen Parker"
A3, would you by any chance be interested in what 40 other university vice chancellors think?, or will it be somewhat comparable to the global warming deniers vs majority of scientists 1 in 41?. Gosh 97.5% of them in favour of deregulation.
I will see your Prof, and raise you a Nobel Laureate Prof:
Professor Schmidt, whose work on supernovae earned the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics, urged bipartisan approach to ensure universities can realise their full potential.
"Nobel Prize-winning astronomer Brian Schmidt backed university fee deregulation as an “incredibly important reform”, warning the current university funding is system is “close to broken” and failing to provide “high-end” training."
Earlier, Labor questioned the judgment of university vice-chancellors who overwhelmingly supported the proposal to deregulate uni fees despite fierce opposition from non-government MPs
What would 40 out of 41 university vice-chancellors know compared to the remnants of PUP and the independents (the opposition) and of course Prof Parker who has always opposed deregulation
40 out of 41 chancellors, Hmmmm I'm "all in"
@monman12 wrote:"And on Wednesday, Mr Abbott gave his clearest signal yet that up to $1.5 billion promised by the federal government to Victoria for stage one of the controversial East West Link would be withdrawn on the eve of the next state and federal budgets."
This is a clear signal? :
"But Mr Abbott declined three times to say if the $1.5 billion allocated for stage one would be withdrawn."
"We want to spend the money, we absolutely want spend the money. We are never going to rip off Victoria but there is nothing else to spend it on, that's the problem."
I guess the defence of: "I just did a C&P with no original additional comments, nothing to do with me" applies!.
Blame James Massola & Richard Willingham.
here;s the rest of my post _ I got "paywalled" 
The first stage of the East West Link was projected to cost about $6.8 billion, while the second stage was projected to cost another $8 billion. The federal government had promised two tranches of $1.5 billion for each stage of the project to the former Liberal state government led by Mr Napthine.
Mr Andrews cancelled the project upon being elected to government and negotiations are continuing about the amount of compensation that may be paid to the consortium who were due to build it.
Victorian Labor has repeatedly said there are a number of infrastructure projects on its agenda that the Abbott government could fund, including removing 50 level crossings and the Melbourne Metro rail project.
@monman12 wrote:I would assume that some are not aware that a few dozen organisations already have access to journalists metadata, and that the main reason for this debate (now submerged in political twaddle) is the requirement that metadata be stored for a minimum of 2 years.
A3 :"George Brandis says he has no intention of using the metadata Bill to pursue journalists. If he means what he says, then the answer is simple — he should exempt journalists from the proposals or at least follow the British lead and require any investigation involving a journalist and his or her contacts to be approved in advance by a judge."
Research!
ABR Legal Affairs Editor
Excerpts from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/george-brandis-benchmark-test-of-metadata-compromise/...
18March
Brandis told Lateline’s Emma Alberici in May 2013: “I’m a supporter of shield laws. In fact, I’m the author of the commonwealth’s shield laws.”
By accepting this week that access to journalists’ metadata should require a warrant instead of mere approval by a senior policeman or agency official, Brandis has begun moving his metadata retention bill closer to the procedure outlined in the shield law that now forms part of the Evidence Act.
"As things stand, there has been no suggestion that judges considering metadata warrants will be asked to consider whether the public interest in unmasking a source outweighs the adverse impact on that person.
Nor would a judge be required to consider the public interest in the communication of information to the public — another provision from the shield law.
i know that, which is why I put the date on the article. I posted it because there is a difference from what you were quoting from the olden days.
17 March
AFR
Attorney-General George Brandis has admitted the government only agreed to tweak its data retention laws to protect journalists' sources in order to ensure they pass parliament, but described the changes as unnecessary.
Senator Brandis says the government agreed to the limited "but not necessary" exemption to ensure the draft laws cleared parliament.
He dismissed as "outrageous hyperbole" criticism from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance that even with the changes the laws were an attack on press freedom.
All that's happening here is the government has thrown something at the Labor Party to buy its silence," Greens senator Scott Ludlam said.
