Let’s face it: the Australian caricature of a suntanned bro/gal who enjoys surfing and frying shrimps on the barbie is way fucking off. In reality, it should be someone sitting in a dark room, their face lit by a glowing laptop screen as they wait for the latest episode of Game of Thrones to reach 100 per cent in their torrents list.

ICYMI, Australians love illegally downloading things. In fact, we love it so much we’ve been called the worst (or best) pirates in the world by our very own Attorney-General, George Brandis. Give yourselves a scolding pat on the back.

Brandis addressed the country’s piracy addiction last week at a Senate Estimates Committee meeting. When Greens senator and part-time DJ Scott Ludlam asked Brandis about the kind of anti-piracy measures the government have in mind, he said:

“Unlike the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, France and many other comparable countries, Australia lacks any effective protection against online piracy. Australia, I’m sorry to say, is the worst offender of any country in the world when it comes to piracy, and I’m very concerned that the legitimate rights and interests of rightsholders and content creators are being compromised by that activity.”

The Abbott government are considering introducing a three-strike plan which would see people fined, charged and/or banned from their internet service provider should they rack up the third strike, you’re out, m8.

Any legislation restricting illegal downloading will undoubtedly be met with outrage from the general public. If there’s anything that could trigger Australians to overthrow a government, it’s someone taking away our Game of Thrones.

Hereby adding George Brandis to Arya’s list.

[Via.]

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