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Dear legends,I just wanted to fill you in quickly on what's happening here. It's all rather exciting and surreal. As you might recall, I received a letter from the Prime Minister's office asking me to stop using the Australian "logo"; signed, the National Symbols Officer (whatever that even is). 

Well, it got even better: a few days later the justice minister Michael Keenan introduced a Bill in Parliament: "Criminal Code Amendment (Impersonating a Commonwealth Body) Bill 2017" - penalty 2-5 years jail!So that escalated quickly.(Yes there's an exemption for satire - but it's pissweak: it exempts works that are "solely genuine satire". Hm... who decides what's "genuine"? And what if it's not "solely" satire, but also for political/activist purposes?)Don't worry... I'm getting legal advice. I'm fortunate that excellent lawyers have already offered to support me pro-bono.At the same time, I'm not gonna miss this golden opportunity to have some fun; so I've just started working on an Honest Government Ad in which we impersonate the Government telling people they can't impersonate the Government. Very meta.Needless to say... I hope you'll all come and visit me and keep supporting me on Patreon if I go to prison :)On a final and more somber note:There's a reason I'm only getting onto this so late in the month. For the past two weeks I've had to be back in Cape Town with my family. My dear grandmother, my best friend, passed away at the start of the month; and my mother is also very unwell, suffering with Alzheimer's - possibly the cruelest thing you can witness your parent going through. I don't want to go into details now - it's a topic I hope to cover in future work - other than to say this has been one of the roughest times in my life.Anyway, I just got back to Melbourne yesterday and I'm getting straight back to work; so I hope to have this next video out soon. But, given the above, I hope you'll understand if my September video only comes out in early October.Meanwhile, please enjoy this article about how the Australian Government is trying to crack down on our Honest Government Ads!  https://www.themandarin.com.au/83589-first-look-at-new-penalties-for-impersonating-federal-government-bodies/.Giordano & team <3 

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Federal minister proposes crackdown on impersonating agencies, satire exempt | The Mandarin

The federal government wants to bring in stiff new criminal penalties for impersonating any Commonwealth entity, in addition to an existing prohibition on pretending to be a public official. The proposed penalties would apply even if you make up a fictitious agency, although Australians who do this "solely for genuine satirical, academic or artistic purposes" will be exempt, [...]

Comments

SexuaLobster

Sorry for your loss. I must admit I am terrified of Alzheimers. And golly, what dingdongs these people are.

thejuicemedia

Thanks brother. Yes, AD is terrifying. And yes, total douches, smh...

SOB

Warmest thoughts to you - I had a special grandmother too. And wow, very interested to know what the lawyers will make of that little lot...isn't it always the lawyers who win?!

Charles Bowman

Sorry for the loss of your grandmother and the very sad news about your mother. Looking forward to your next superbly wonderful creation....

Mandy Field

Oh mate, what tricky times for you... And meanwhile you keep giving. You are amazing and more.... big love

thejuicemedia

Thanks Mandy <3 The past two weeks have made me realise how precious little time we have to sing our song, so I'm getting straight back to it; I know it's what my gran + mother would want me to do!

Alex Ker

Sorry to hear of your loss my friend, thoughts are with you. As much as I, and many others, look forward to your work, no one will mind waiting a few days while you look after more important things.

Jeremy Mowe

I agree with this sentiment. Happy to continue to support you and take the time you need. Family has to come first.

Design's the Limit

I love the idea of the improv, your just following their orders and helping to spread the word. They should thank you, not punish you, for helping them out. Do as they say, not as they do! Should definitely highlight how Alien it is and definitely not the behavior of a government which believes it is at home.