When former Australian Human Rights President Gillian Triggs complained about the danger of speaking freely at home, few took her seriously.
After all, only a total tyrant would suggest that what an individual was able to say in a private conversation with a family member in their own home was a cause for lament.
“Sadly you can say what you like around the kitchen table at home" was one of the most memorable of her many, many appalling statements.
It was uttered at a speech in support of fellow authoritarian moraliser and former Greens leader Bob Brown.
However, like Cassandra of Ancient Greek mythology, Triggs was obviously cursed to utter true prophesies which no normal person would believe. Until now!
This week Norway has done just what Triggs longed for.
Those found guilty of uttering hate speech - in private remarks - face a fine or up to a year in jail. If you make the comments in public, you could be locked up for three years.
But it's not just any old hate speech, it has to 'dehumanise' trans people; whatever that actually means.
Imagine the scenario, you are at home and make a perfectly reasonable remark that men (even if they claim to be women) cannot have children. Or perhaps you take the side of truth in the (now contested?) biological reality that only women menstruate.
Both facts could be considered dehumanising hate speech by some fringe dwelling do-gooder.
Of course sensible people wouldn't entertain such pompous prima donnas in their own home but what if one sneaks in under your guard and reports you to the authorities?
Worse still, what if big tech decide they need Siri or Alexa to make sure you aren't saying anything they consider inappropriate - even if it's true.
We know that truth no longer matters to the tech oligarchs, the PC activists or the oppressive politicians trying to police our thoughts and speech.
You simply couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. Well actually that's not true.
George Orwell wrote a pretty good book entitled 1984 which now reads like a blueprint for the totalitarian state in 2020.
Amazingly, the Norwegian parliament passed this draconian legislation without even having a vote.
Norway's Minister of Justice and Public Security Monica Maeland said:
It is imperative that the protection against discrimination offered by the criminal legislation is adapted to the practical situations that arise
That practical situation is talking to your spouse or family or friends about something one of them might take offence to and then having them use it against you by running to the trans police.
The Orwellian state is truly upon us. Truth is whatever they want it to be. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.
Cory Bernardi is the author of seven books and has been a member of the Australian rowing team, a publican, an investment portfolio manager and spent nearly 14 years as an Australian Senator.
Australia is being let down by a government that doesn't know what to do or how to do it. The pressure of underperformance is starting to show and we are all paying the price.
The Prime Minister has a delicate balancing act ahead of him. He needs to muscle up to China while re-establishing important trade markets for our products.
