Rights of Professional and Amateur Photographers

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This is a petition to represent the concerns of all professional and amateur photographers within Australia.

We are concerned by suggestions raised in a Federal Parliament working committee that suggest public places should become "camera free zones". (Sunday Telegraph 11 March 2007)

The reasoning behind this suggestion relates to the recent incidents involving sneak cameras, in particular mobile phones and hidden cameras. As serious photographers we take great offence at having our hobby and/or livelihoods placed into disarray at the actions of a small minority. As a group we fully support any action taken to prevent these "sneak photos" which are a blatant invasion of a person's privacy.

By signing this petition we are requesting the following points be considered by this or any future working committee or legislative group, within State or Federal Parliament:

1. That the rights of legitimate photographers as members of the community be given precedence over the rights of small minority groups.
2. That in all future working committees or discussion groups, fair and appropriate representation from photography groups and clubs be included.
3. That any future legislation, whether offence or machinery sections, clearly indicates that the rights of serious photographers to photograph in public places, including beaches, are not to be affected by any such legislation.

We urge our elected representatives to take these points into consideration and represent all members of the community, including photographers.

(note to those signing this petition - please elect to have your email address available to the author or public to enable further updates on this matter. Thank you.)

5051 Signatures

  • a.m. p
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Brisbane, Qld
  • Warren B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney, NSW
    • Web Page
    • http://www.musecube.com/Harlequin
  • Kylie W
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Qld
  • steve p
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • nsw
  • Bill R
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide,South Australia
    • Web Page
    • http://www.potd.com.au/gallery/index.php?cat=10011
    • Comments
    • Banning photography in public places ? How ridiculous can it get ? (might be sorry I asked ! )
  • Brian E
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Melbourne Australia
  • Niki S
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Merimbula, NSW
    • Web Page
    • http://icequeen--.deviantart.com
  • Gavin G
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney, NSW
  • Bob L
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Ellenbrook WA
    • Web Page
    • www.boblitchfield.com
    • Comments
    • This is an appalling move, and time that Australia showed the world what we stand for. I'm tired of being harrassed by petty officials when taking photographs in locations like my local zoo, simply because I have a better camera than most people. If this legislation is allowed to go through it will spell the death of photography in Australia. I may as well hang up my cameras & retire. Every home in this country has at least 1 camera, so this will effect the entire nation.
  • Rachael G
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Victoria
    • Web Page
    • www.myspace.com/razorblade_beauty
  • Keith B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Forster, NSW
  • Adam W
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide South Australia
    • Web Page
    • www.adamwood.com.au
  • Dr Philip D
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Perth WA
    • Web Page
    • PhilDeschamp.com.au
    • Comments
    • This proposed legislation is an infringment of my basic rights!
  • Vince
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Christchurch
  • Ian D
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Kempsey NSW
    • Web Page
    • www.kundabungkid.com
    • Comments
    • Democratic right
  • Geoffrey B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Launceston, TAS
  • Ailsa M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Western Australia
    • Comments
    • I like to take photo's when I am traveling of beach's ,of landscapes, of historical buildings, of flowers, of animals, of family and friends. This is my one hobby, I am a member of a Camera Club and enjoy the competitions and social interaction,
  • Michael M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • perth western Australia
  • Graham A
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Wantirna, Victoria
  • rachel
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • victoria
    • Web Page
    • myspace.com/miss_guns
  • Darlene S
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Perth western australia
  • Sandra W
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Bendigo, Victoria
  • Les H
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • victoria
    • Comments
    • There must be a better way to prevent stop those few that spoil it for those who are passionate at taking a photo
  • Nick B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Perth WA
  • Leslie B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Springvale Sth VIC
  • Donna L
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • WA
  • andrew m
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Western Australia
  • Daniel C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide, SA
  • Robert E
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • NSW
  • Peter L
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Thornlie WA
    • Comments
    • Stop nannying for GODS SAKE !!!! It will become too oppressive to live here shortly.
  • Paul L
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Central Coast NSW
    • Comments
    • Licensed Photographers with checks (Free), wouldn't that be easier than persecuting all the photographers in the country.
  • John S
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Paddington, NSW
    • Web Page
    • www.maxwell.com.au
    • Comments
    • Photography is the Universal Language of communication. Efforts to ban photography in public places will for ever diminish our communication of spirit, culture, our land and who we are as a nation. Photography has, since 1839, played an intrinisic part in recording our history. To place any further restrictions, on top of those now imposed in some national parks, would be a catastrophic restriction on Australian expression, specifically protected in our constitution.
  • Donna A
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Central Coast NSW
    • Comments
    • Innocent until proven guilty, what happened to that civil right, as well as the persecution all the photographers in the country.
  • David
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Cedar Creek, Queensland
    • Web Page
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/dadegroot/
    • Comments
    • Privacy is a valid concern for the public, but blanket bans are not the answer.
  • Tony H
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Perth
    • Comments
    • It Is a Free Country...... ( Neurotic )
  • Daren T
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Springfield NSW
    • Web Page
    • www.darenturnbull.com
    • Comments
    • Not only does this reek of big brother mentality. But we risk losing a whole generation of visual social history to stop a very few perverts who can be handled under existing laws
  • Vicki G
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • West Australia
  • D.McQuhae
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney
    • Comments
    • I say no to banning cameras in public places.
  • Sheryl S
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney, NSW
  • Jon L
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • VIC
  • Ashleigh M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Ringwood, Victoria
    • Web Page
    • http://kwana.sheezyart.com
  • Danielle A
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Brisbane, Queensland
  • Rebecca Z
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide, SA
    • Web Page
    • azerane.deviantart.com
  • Leah W
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Townsville, QLD
    • Comments
    • This is clearly an alarmist reaction to a minority of people who abuse the use of cameras. This would mean we could no longer take a photo of a beautiful sunset; of stunning architecture; of curious animals; of breath-taking scenery; of just about anything- completely defeating the purpose of photography! Please, for once, prove that politicians do use common sense.
  • Jane M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney NSW
  • elaine m
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Perth WA
  • Steavie Lea K
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • sydney, nsw
    • Web Page
    • www.steavieleaphotography.com.au
    • Comments
    • To ban people using a camera, you really are risking a decline in tourism and any documentation of history. Don't make a blanket ban a band-aid solution, fix the problem and put a ban on the purchase of hidden paripherals, and the unlawful use of mobile phones.
  • Joanne B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Melbourne, Victoria.
    • Web Page
    • http://astyness.deviantart.com
    • Comments
    • I take pictures mostly of inanimate objects because i have no idea if its ok to photograph people in the street anymore.
  • Melissa
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • NSW
    • Web Page
    • www.ausphotography.net.au
  • Cameron B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • NSW