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

  • Alana F
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Gladstone, Queensland
    • Web Page
    • www.shootingstarphotography.net
  • Shivan N
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • VIC
    • Comments
    • WE
  • Alex R
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Victoria
    • Web Page
    • http://summon-the-wolves.deviantart.com/
    • Comments
    • I love my hobby, and just because i'm using a camera it doesn't mean i'm a pervert.
  • Daniel C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Hurlstone Park, NSW
  • Rebecca G
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Brisbane Queensland
    • Comments
    • Imagine history without visual documentation, as a society and as individuals it is not acceptable.
  • Lani S
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Launceston Tas
  • Luke C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide
    • Comments
    • Im no Pervert! or a terrorist for that matter.
  • Christine S
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Noble Park, Victoria
  • Kym F
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide, SA
    • Web Page
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/cypheroz/
    • Comments
    • Amateur
  • James W
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide, Australia
    • Web Page
    • http://www.shiekky.com
  • Lorraine G
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Mudgee NSW
  • Peter M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • South Australia Adelaide
  • Stephan C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • New South Wales
    • Comments
    • The proposed bill is a violation of civil liberty
  • Chris H
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney, NSW
  • Daryl Van H
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Surrey, B.C.
  • Ivan D
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Londonderry
  • Christopher M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Canberra,
    • Web Page
    • http://Kraden.Deviantart.com
    • Comments
    • Some of the best photography I know is impromptu in public spaces. Do we cause genocide of blacks because one steals a car? Do we ban having pets becuse one guy has a vicious dog? Do we stop letting women have children because one had an abortion? No. This law is frivilous overacting by a political figure attempting to do some good while blindsighting themselves to all the repercussions. THis would mean no fashion shots, no photography of the hotel you own, no promotional material, no freedom. I live in a democracy and australia for a reason, don't start a landslide.
  • Gavin
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Gold Coast QLD
  • Shannon C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Perth WA
    • Web Page
    • underwaterphotography.com.au
  • Andrew B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Melbourne, Victoria
  • Mike F
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • WA
  • Florian B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Bath UK
  • Sue B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Victoria, Australia
    • Comments
    • Rights of Photographers must be taken into consideration
  • ROB L
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • wodonga
    • Web Page
    • www'roblaceyphotography.com.au
  • Jamie F
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney NSW
    • Web Page
    • www.photonews.com.au
    • Comments
    • It would be an absurd situation to ban people from photographing anything or anyone in a public place, when common laws provide for any issues of indecency, harassment and normal behaviour
  • Humairaa H
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide South Australia
  • Craig D
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Glenmore Park
    • Web Page
    • www.quintessencedesign.com.au
  • Colin L
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Adelaide SA
  • Gauthama S
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Perth WA
  • Donald L
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Springwood
  • David
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • NSW
  • John M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Victoria
  • Ben B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Brisbane, QLD
    • Web Page
    • biering.org
  • Thomas P
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Melbourne Victoria
  • Peter C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Kempsey NSW
  • Tarsh E
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Hobart, Tasmania
    • Web Page
    • http://darlkhourphoto.com
  • Shawn F
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Melbourne, Vic
  • Chris
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Port Pirie - South Australia
    • Web Page
    • http://www.southernflinders.sa.scouts.com.au/
  • Martin A
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Townsville
    • Comments
    • To ban street and public candid photography would be a disaster for me as it is my passion for me to capture these shots and a passion for others to veiw my shots
  • Mark H
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Melbourne
  • Sonia M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Victoria
    • Web Page
    • www.sonia-mangiapane.com
  • Glenn C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Newcastle NSW
    • Web Page
    • www.associa.com.au
  • Justin C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Maitland, NSW
  • Daniel
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Lake Macquarie NSW
  • Max M
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Newcastle, NSW
    • Web Page
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelegionofmachines/
    • Comments
    • Not only is photography a hobby and/or livelihood for many, it is also an important ARTFORM. I point you to the Dupain image of a sunbather which hangs in the national gallery - it was taken in public and is a celebrated piece of art. Should all opportunities to create such spontaneous artworks be destroyed?
  • Garry B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney, NSW
    • Web Page
    • http://www.gazpixs.com.au/
    • Comments
    • Professional Working photographer for over 25 years.
  • Tim C
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Werrington NSW
    • Comments
    • Fair use policy. Distinction between overt and covert. Casual snap OK versus illegally following people or getting in peoples way. How it affects consumers, artists, news photographers and paparazzi.
  • Peter W
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Torquay Victoria
    • Comments
    • I believe that we are now in the 21st century and have left the Victorian era far behind, or have we? When will the tail stop wagging the dog? And when minority groups stop trying to control the majority?
  • Craig B
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • ACT
  • Daniel S
    • Are you a member of a photography club or group?
    • No
    • City and State
    • Sydney NSW
    • Web Page
    • www.freenews.com.au