Remember when Australia was seen as the last bastion or rugged individualism and a lot of people in this country were talking about moving there to escape the wussification of America? But the country's already tough anti-smoking laws are set to become the harshest in the world, and Aussies won't even be able to cuss about it:
Australians may have a love of plain speaking but new laws are set to curtail some of their more colourful language with police issuing on-the-spot fines for obnoxious swearing.
The country's second most populous state Victoria is due to approve new legislation this week under which police will be able to slap fines of up to Aus$240 (US$257) on people using offensive words or phrases.
Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark said the penalties, similar to those issued for speeding or parking illegally, would free up police time.
"This will give the police the tools they need to be able to act against this sort of obnoxious behaviour on the spot, rather than having to drag offenders off to court and take up time and money in proceedings," he said.
I guess so, "tools they need" to "free up police time," considering they can go straight to the fines without any old pesky trials or worries about what might be considered "obnoxious behavior." A darn sad way to end up for a country that started out proudly as a penal colony. It's tempting to say Australia's problem is the lack of reverence for free speech given to us by our historic commitment to the Fiirst Amendment, but that wouldn't explain all the attempts here at anti-profanity laws.
