Surely there has to come a point, in a free society like Australia, where the police say "no, we're not enforcing this". The US shows that this is unlikely though.
In the US there seems to be a divide between rural law enforcement, usually a sheriff's department, and urban police forces when it comes to this type of thing. Perhaps because sheriffs are elected and police chiefs are typically appointed?
Most Australians support these measures, please stop assuming we have the same views as americans.
A lot more free than say Germany in the 1930s? Personally, I think we underestimate the sheer size, scope and momentum behind the machine that is the state.
ah, good that we've got a benchmark, we're good then
It's not a benchmark. It's a point to show that at some point individuals can't stop the giant machinery of the state even though individuals disagree. Some police tried in Germany, I'm sure, a lot of them died most likely and still look what managed to happen.
Watching the protests in Sydney and Melbourne, it appears the Police are extreme eager to bring violence and force, and all too happy to enforce more and more.
Sydney police are glad they can finally bash some heads in instead of checking train tickets