The Australian government has targeted former NBA star Andrew Bogut for daring to speak out against the unimpeded tyranny of politicians in the former penal colony.
“Vote them out!” Bogut’s social media post reads.
“No politician in Victoria should vote to give this government permanent pandemic powers… If these politicians vote these laws in, make sure you vote them out,” Bogut continues in the accompanying video.
According to a letter from the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), this request was apparently too much criticism for the government to handle.
I received this letter not long ago from @electionsvic !
I will explain further tomorrow via a @roguebogues “Common Sense” series podcast.
Amazing the lengths the Vic Gov are going to to silence me.
I am officially on a list! ☺️☺️☺️ pic.twitter.com/8qtCDcM5lC
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) January 18, 2022
They, then, served Bogut with a formal cautionary letter telling him that he’ll be fined over $9,000 if he dares to speak out against the government again.
Prof Greg Craven absolutely let loose on the Victorian Electoral Commissioner just now on Sky, over the ‘gross overreach’ in attempting to silence @andrewbogut. pic.twitter.com/bEfOeMHHS8
— Daniel James (@dulhunty) January 20, 2022
Of course, Bogut hasn’t backed down. Rather, he has been emboldened by the whole ordeal, publishing the letter to Twitter, which sparked debate over the state of Australia — a country so authoritarian, you can be fined for merely criticizing elected officials.
As one Australian Twitter user puts it, “Imagine being threatened with a fine by the electoral commission for not agreeing with your Government. And people are still pretending that all of this is fine and we aren’t losing our freedom.”
Victorian Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately was later forced to address the original letter and Bogut’s assertion that he’s been targeted for wrongthink.
Thanks for the PR release @DanielAndrewsMP !!
Damn , did it again.
Sorry, I meant @electionsvic 😉😉😉*this message was endorsed by Andrew Bogut of the non crooked Political Party, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. https://t.co/PwZ0PnzsOm
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) January 20, 2022
The #VEC didn’t single out @andrewbogut, they have also sent out warnings for all of the 37000000 social media posts about elections & governments… 🙄 https://t.co/Zoj8loootQ
— Obserifish (@obserifish) January 20, 2022
“The purpose of authorization is to ensure that the public knows and understands who is providing that commentary,” Gately said.
“Mr. Bogut has not been targeted or treated any differently to anyone else. If we receive a complaint, we respond. It’s quite simple really, all he needs to do is to add his name and an address, which can be a business address. End of story.”
See, it’s all good! According to the government, all Bogut must do to criticize the government is be approved by the government. That isn’t insane or completely authoritarian at all.
