Bogut gag attempt shows VEC’s sinister overreach

The VEC’s sinister attempt to gag Andrew Bogut is the kind of dangerous overreach you would expect to see in a despotic hellhole, not Victoria.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has some explaining to do. Their sinister attempt to intimidate Andrew Bogut is reminiscent of the type of antics you would expect in a despotic hellhole, not the state of Victoria.

Threatening to fine a private citizen for sharing their political beliefs is dangerous overreach. The former NBA star is perfectly entitled to criticise elected officials and post videos encouraging his social media followers to vote out underperforming MPs.

Bogut has said that athletes are being muzzled about sharing their views against the government.

“Athletes have been told ‘you are not to make anti-lockdown, anti-government statements on social media, period ... because it affects our league staying open and you getting a salary’,” he said.

The video he posted features Animal Justice MP Andy Meddick, Reason Party leader Fiona Patten and Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam – or as I’ve referred to them, Dan’s useful idiots – and encourages Victorians to “vote them out”.

A VEC spokeswoman said any posts shared by Bogut relating to electoral matters must carry authorisation under the law.

VEC spokeswoman Ruth Murphy said any individual who posted critical comments that related to “electoral matters” without “an authorisation as required by law” could face penalties of up to $26,640. But Bogut is not running for office or speaking on behalf of any political party.

Constitutional Lawyer Professor Greg Craven was scathing of the VEC’s actions.

“It’s absolutely astonishing, the VEC is guilty of constitutional drivel, in this country we have freedom of political communication and there is no doubt this is squarely in there,” he said.

“If that is the case then every political story should have a line of disclosure in it. If that’s the case then every program on every channel and every newspaper should carry it.

“That is absolutely absurd, so you have to ask the question why has Andrew Bogut been singled out.

“It’s interesting that no one has been singled out with the opposite point of view. I think the electoral commissioner is guilty of vast overreach and he should retreat as quickly as decently as possible.”

If the VEC was being consistent they’d be sending threatening notices to tens of thousands of other Victorians who have similarly shared their views including columnists and commentators.

Wonder if I’ll be receiving an official caution from the VEC.