Comments on: Muller defies council gag http://www.borderwatch.com.au/archives/3112 Regional newspaper serving Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:17:23 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bill http://www.borderwatch.com.au/archives/3112/comment-page-1#comment-4818 Bill Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:46:48 +0000 http://www.borderwatch.com.au/?p=3112#comment-4818 Good on you Peter Muller, but look out, they will really have the knives out for you now. Good on you Peter Muller, but look out, they will really have the knives out for you now.

]]> By: Mark Parnell MLC (Greens) http://www.borderwatch.com.au/archives/3112/comment-page-1#comment-4802 Mark Parnell MLC (Greens) Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:28:14 +0000 http://www.borderwatch.com.au/?p=3112#comment-4802 Cr Peter Muller is right to reject attempts to curtail freedom of expression of elected members. As a lawyer myself, it seems like his legal advice is spot on. Councils do need protocols to deal with official Council communications with media, but when it comes to individual elected members, then they should be at liberty to express their private views to the media as they see fit. Provided rules around confidentiality and defamation are complied with, there should be no barrier to free speech in a democracy. I have introduced legislation in State Parliament to protect citizens from attempts to stifle free speech. Cr Peter Muller is right to reject attempts to curtail freedom of expression of elected members. As a lawyer myself, it seems like his legal advice is spot on.

Councils do need protocols to deal with official Council communications with media, but when it comes to individual elected members, then they should be at liberty to express their private views to the media as they see fit. Provided rules around confidentiality and defamation are complied with, there should be no barrier to free speech in a democracy.

I have introduced legislation in State Parliament to protect citizens from attempts to stifle free speech.

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