I never actually realised until yesterday just what a threat to society I am.

I am spending some time in Perth attending a conference, having just arrived yesterday. Since the conference did not commence until today, I decided to take a tour of Perth. So I called a taxi and took the ride into town. The taxi driver let me off in the city centre and I started to go exploring, whereupon I discovered the Perth Central Railway Station.

A bus shelter in Perth city with a Commonwealth Government advertisement,

asking people to tell the authorities if they feel there are terrorists in their midst.

Since it was an interesting sort of place, I took a photo and immediately I heard a stern voice ask “Excuse me sir, can you tell me why you are taking that photo?” It was a police officer. So I replied that I was a tourist and that the station looked interesting. And what might the problem be with that, anyway?

He replied “Well, you know with this issue of terrorism, you need to be careful about taking photos”.

Um, excuse me?

He elaborated; “You know, there are a lot of people down there (in the railway station), especially old people, who get a bit edgy when people take photographs. Now I know you are not a terrorist, but please just be careful when taking photos”, he advised.

Not entirely knowing how one could ‘be careful’ when taking photos, and being a visitor to the good State of Western Australia, I asked whether I had breached any state law. The officer assured me that I hadn’t. And so with that advice, I was encouraged to leave the area and take my camera with me.

And the offence? Taking a photo of a railway station.

It is seriously time to get some perspective on this issue.