Today's show focuses on the stand-off between Julian Assange and the British government. The news about his acceptance by Ecuador had not yet broken as we went to air.

We also take a look at the science-fiction level totalitarian surveillance system known as "TrapWire", amid speculation that this invasive technique of "crime prevention" may be already in use in Australia. We note that all copies of an article on the topic (originally published in the Fairfax press) have now abeen deleted. The original article can still be found here, courtesy of Fair Dinkum Radio.

Other themes addressed in the show include the escalating rhetoric of war against Iran, the Australian nanny state, and a look at the a testimonial regarding the alternative cancer cure known as "black salve".

Related Links

• Australia 'preparing' for Assange extradition to US
• Julian Assange 'can stay in embassy indefinitely' Rafael Correa says
• Senate votes no on TrapWire motion
• Surveillance system linked to transport, defence contractor
• Trapwire surveillance system exposed in document leak
• Senate votes no on TrapWire motion
• Trapwire: It's Not the Surveillance, It's the Sleaze
• Kings Cross drinks ban to curb violence
• Bill O'Leary's Black Salve Skin Cancer Story
• Israeli 'document' on Iran attack leaked
• Israeli speculation over Iran strike reaches fever pitch

DISCLAIMER: This article is NOT an advertisement for "black salve", nor should it be construed as promoting the use of "black salve".

We tend to believe that in Australia, despite excessive taxation, nanny state legislation, over-regulation and a spiralling cost of living, we at least have free speech, right?

At least we are not like China where the government has a list of banned topics that cannot be discussed publicly, right?

Wrong!

Our government, via a maze of bureaucracies, can and does prohibit discussion, even in a purely journalistic way, about alternative health products and therapies which are not "approved" by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). TGA (the equivalent of the FDA in the US) has wide ranging powers to prevent the sale, advertising and apparently even the discussion of non-approved health products, one of which is the purported cancer cure known as "black salve".

My guest today in the 2nd hour is Leon Pittard, host of Fair Dinkum Radio, who has been served with a complaint from the TGA due to an interview he conducted with Meryl Dorey, Director of the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN), a non-profit organisation which helps people make informed decisions about vaccines.

The AVN has been targeted for several years by pro-vaccine lobbyists whose website, "Stop the AVN", declares that "the anti-vaccination propaganda issued by the AVN and its President, Meryl Dorey, is a menace to public health". This group has been behind complaints against the AVN which were upheld by another government organisation, the "Health Care Complaints Commission" (HCCC).

More recently, the AVN was ordered to stop selling a DVD titled One Answer to Cancer, which promotes the use of a herbal remedy known as "black salve". Despite complying with the demand to remove the DVD from sale on their website, the AVN and Leon Pittard are now being harassed simply for talking about the subject during an interview on Fair Dinkum Radio on on 5 May 2012.

Leon Pittard has documented the entire saga in his article and press release, "Australian thought police target free speech".

Next week we will be interviewing Meryl Dorey to get her perspective on this deeply troubling chain of events.

VIDEO ON BLACK SALVE FROM PANACEA BOCAF

Related Links

• Taylor breaks silence to raise fair trial fears
• Bill Gates and 47,500 Cases of Paralysis
• Government continues vendetta against the AVN
• Australian thought police target free speech
• Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline hit with $3B in penalties
• London 2012: Missile tenants lose legal ruling