Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called for a crackdown on the use of encrypted messaging apps after the shooting tragedy in which two police officers and a local man were among six dead after an apparent ambush and siege at a remote Queensland property on Monday.
A former principal, his brother and sister-in-law were shot dead by police at Wieambilla in the western Darling Downs region.
Dutton, a former Queensland police officer and home affairs minister, was speaking about the siege and murders on Thursday morning before the extra sitting of Parliament where MPs planned to move a condolence motion for the victims.
The Liberal leader was asked whether authorities and the public should be alarmed by the “anti-government, anti-authoritarian conspiracy theory sort of rhetoric” espoused by one of the dead brothers.
“Like we’ve seen in recent years, the spread of disinformation on the internet and the way in which that infects people’s minds and changes their whole persona, their whole perspective, and causes them to commit or contributes at least to them committing extreme acts should be of concern to any right-thinking Australian,” Dutton said.
“So this is why we’ve had a debate in recent years about encryption, where there are messages and encrypted messaging apps, and an exchange of information, of disinformation, between these groups.
“I mean, we only know what we’ve seen publicly in relation to the incident in Queensland. So no doubt all of that investigation is still underway. But it should be a real concern.”
He said the opposition would support “any measures” from the government that would have the effect of holding online platforms to account: “If a court issues a warrant, that information should be discoverable by police.”
Dutton’s comments come after Queensland Police flagged that an inquiry into the shooting would include an investigation of the perpetrators’ online activity. So far no information has been made public about whether the shooters had used encrypted messaging apps, but one brother’s history of comments on fringe Australian conspiracy websites and forums has come to light.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the dead police officers earlier in the week: “This is not a price that anyone who puts on the uniform should ever pay. We can never count the true cost. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of all those affected by this tragedy.”
Members of Dutton’s own party have aided, abetted and promoted far right wing conspiracy theories. Plus, some MSM give them time and space, helping to normalise it. The fact that the media often interview these people then claim “balance”, is highly problematic. Think how much air-time was given to Craig Kelly and George Christiansen for instance. And Jim Molan reposting anti-Islam videos and not being censured by the then PM or party.
And, just wondering – did Dutton decry the “anti-government, anti-authoritarian conspiracy theory sort of rhetoric” that was at the heart of the demonstrations in Victoria re lockdowns?
I really don’t think that encryption is the main problem here.
And when the Victorian lockdown protesters labelled by the media and coalition politicians as “tradies” and “construction workers” rebelling against the unions and labor were actually found by police to be right wing fakes wearing cheap hi-vis vests, that fact was ignored and barely reported.
Dutton was Home Affairs minister for a long time, he very easily could have “cracked down” on encrypted apps and chose not too. Indeed, he ran away from criticising far right extremism, even after an Australian White supremacist committed a terrorist attack in NZ.
Ah yes! I remember it well. Told us left wing extremism was as dangerous and prevalent as right wing extremism AND Islamic extremism is an example of left wing extremism. Said it several times and with a straight face, for awhile there. Peter Dutton: one man misinformation machine, all in the name of pacifying “the Base”.
Can he help it? … Mudroch’s Muppets have been writing his material for him for years.
Mainstream right wing media that is available in every suburban, regional and remote bakery has enough anti-authority, gun promoting, anti-vaxxer mesaging let alone paranoia about diversity. There is no doubt that these sentiments are enhanced and taken to a new extreme in the internet spaces but these would be far more marginal in their influence if not already granted a degree of legitimacy by media moguls and right wing politicians. Weiambilla and other such atrocities do not happen in a vacuum or because of some very extreme subcultures. Many ordinary people are walking around with these extreme views thanks to Sky After Dark beaming out into Queensland where there is a lack of diverse media. Dutton is trying to seek absolution for the nutbags in his own ranks.
Fine. There’s a good case for looking at what part ‘social’ media and online activity played in this horrific crime; but nobody at that farmhouse was killed by a hostile online comment. It seems a bit odd (oh all right, it’s not odd at all) that Dutton and others are not demanding a hard look at how the killers got hold of their guns and whether it was all legal and proper. And if it was all legal, is that ok?
Yeah nah, this incident obviously means we have to abolish privacy.
“if you’ve done nothing wrong….”
Some time ago when someone began reciting that threadbare line about ‘If you’ve got nothing to hide..’ I asked ‘Why shouldn’t I have something to hide?’ I’m still waiting to find out.
Ooh pray tell!
The sight of Dutton weeping in Parliament when mentioning the Police deaths was truly sickening…………….
………..perhaps he should refrain from using the GOP playbook instead, because this is what the results look like.
The hypocrisy of this sad excuse for a man is excruciating.
Just find yourself a warm, comfortable rat hole and disappear……………
…………..for the good of the country.
Couldn’t agree more. Give me Aussie Joe Biden any day. The Liberals have made a big mistake making this buffoon their leader
“Like we’ve seen in recent years, the spread of disinformation on the internet and the way in which that infects people’s minds and changes their whole persona, their whole perspective, and causes them to commit or contributes at least to them committing extreme acts should be of concern to any right-thinking Australian,” Dutton said.”
How about Dutton starts by taking himself and his colleagues in hand. They have been happily egging on this stuff for a few years now.
Oops, just read the comments that said it much better than I did. I think a letter to Dutton is also in order.