Australian Internet Censorship Jun to Dec 2006

Senator the Hon Helen Coonan Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

Protecting Families Online—Address to the National Press Club Canberra

Wednesday June 14 2006

Of the many issues within my portfolio that warrant attention, none is more contentious than Internet pornography.

In many ways it is the most concerning and the least understood.

I believe the subject warrants a great deal more informed debate and discussion as it is surely one of the scourges facing young people and families.

Life has become infinitely more sophisticated since the Internet's arrival but it has also become more complicated.

At each technological leap forward we find another push at the regulatory settings. And at every step we find scammers, con artists, thieves, fraudsters and, worse, paedophiles and pornographers, who can quickly adapt to using more treacherous and sophisticated methods of committing their crimes.

While the Internet is generally used as a tool to broaden our horizons and as an almost limitless source of information, there are pitfalls.

The Internet can be a global playground for the unsavoury and the uncivilised.

And while in Australia we have taken significant proactive action on our own soil, in cyberspace there are many places to hide your location, your identity and your true purpose.

To help protect Australian families, the Government has committed to doing everything reasonably possible to ensure that all Australians – particularly children – are safe on the Internet.

We are of the firm belief that a holistic approach to Internet safety is the best way to protect children.

We need to educate parents, teachers and kids about the dangers of the net, we need to regulate to ensure that ISPs comply with codes of practice and we need to legislate to ensure there are appropriate criminal sanctions for those who create or perpetuate offensive and illegal content online.

We will listen to all arguments, read all reports and test the effectiveness of all methods to crack down on unsavoury and illegal material on the web.

Action to date 

As a measure of how seriously we rate protecting families the Government introduced the Online Content Scheme in 2000 which banned X and RC (refused classification) -rated material from being hosted on web servers in Australia . R rated material operating without age-verification controls is also prohibited.

The Scheme implements strong criminal sanctions against perpetrators of child pornography and empowers the Australian Communications and Media Authority to issue fines of up to $55,000 per day for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and content hosts that knowingly host this material.

While there have been no ISP prosecutions using the Broadcasting Services Act, more than 340 take-down notices have been issued by ACMA in relation to Australian hosted content since the scheme was introduced.

Australia can boast close to a 100 per cent success rate in cracking down on illegal and offensive content hosted by Australian ISPs as all take-down notices have been complied with.

And if ACMA is satisfied that Internet content hosted outside Australia is prohibited or likely prohibited under Australian law, Internet filters are updated to block its details.

Filters are considered the best means for a user to regulate their own Internet experience and the Government currently requires that Internet filters are offered at cost or below,/

that ISPs display Internet safety information on their web pages and regularly update their customers about how to enjoy a safer Internet experience.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority can fine ISPs up $27,500 a day for non-compliance with these industry codes.

A recent audit conducted by ACMA found a high degree of compliance with the industry codes from the largest 24 ISPs in Australia .

The audit demonstrates the effectiveness of the codes of practice which form part of the Government's Online Content Co-regulatory Scheme.

The Online Content Scheme also created the Australian Government's Internet Safety Agency – NetAlert.

Since its creation NetAlert has become a key source of information on Internet safety for Australian families.

The NetAlert Internet site has an Internet Safety Advice Centre, you can report offensive material or suspect Internet sites to ACMA, there is a safety toolkit for parents and a kids section where NetAlert mascot Netty can teach kids how to safely surf the net.

To complement these measures we have provided more than $35 million to the Australian Federal Police to set up specialised teams to protect families and children from sex criminals.

The AFP Online Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET) was created to provide the AFP with national assessment and coordination capability for international and national referrals of child pornography.

This investment in protecting families online has reaped real rewards.

In 2004, the largest ever on-line child pornography investigation Operation Auxin resulted in the execution of 503 search warrants, the arrests of 250 people across the country and the laying of 2279 charges.

And laws introduced into Australia last year provide severe sanctions for sex crimes against children perpetrated by using the Internet.

The use of the Internet to ‘groom' or procure children with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with them carries a penalty of up to 15 years jail.

These laws also carry a penalty of 10 years imprisonment for anyone who accesses or transmits child pornography online.

Australia has achieved a great deal when it comes to cracking down on hosts of inappropriate and illegal online content and the people that push it.

International actions 

But we also take strong action on an international scale.

In addition to bilateral and multilateral efforts, Australia takes part in a number of international fora to better share information about online content.

Australia is an active member of the Virtual Global Taskforce which is made up of law enforcement agencies from Australia , the UK , the US and Canada - working together to fight child abuse online.

Over the past 12 months, the Taskforce has received more than 300 reports from concerned adults and children about activity online.

The Taskforce's Operation PIN – where a website purporting to contain images of child abuse was used to lure in sex offenders – resulted in the charging of 27 individuals, including three in Australia in March this year.

ACMA is also an associate member of the Internet Hotline Providers Association (INHOPE), an initiative that sees Australia work closely with members of the European community and the US to crack down on child pornography.

Australia was also recently instrumental in lobbying, along with the US , for the international registrar of domain names to refuse a proposal to establish a .xxx Internet domain.

We are of the view that the creation of a .xxx domain would lead to an increase in pornography on the Internet, act as a haven for illegal material or push offensive content on vulnerable groups.

ISP filtering 

While a lot is already being done, we must continue to do more to educate parents about the pitfalls and the positives of the Internet and do more to give parents and children the tools to make their online experience safer.

There have been many voices in the Internet pornography debate, I would acknowledge the contribution of many of my colleagues and say that all are sincere.

But I fear that many of these voices are not well informed about the best available technical solutions to Internet pornography.

I support all efforts to find the best way to make the Internet a safer place and I would like to make it clear today that the Government has not and will not rule out any proven measure to protect children online.

But, whatever actions we take must be the most effective tool at our disposal.

Recently there have been ardent advocates of mandated ISP level filtering - whether through a mandated server level system or through what has been called Clean Feed.

Clean Feed is anything but clean – it does not block all pornography or other offensive sites and does not make the Internet safe.

The system – operated by British Telecom in the UK– is limited to blocking the few thousand known child exploitation sites – horrid and criminal pornography involving children.

While, on the surface this may appear a step in the right direction, there have been serious concerns raised in the UK about the effectiveness of Clean Feed.

Clean Feed does not block all pornography or other offensive sites and it does not make the Internet child safe.

Where blocking known websites at the ISP level might reduce the chances of stumbling across pornography, it does not address e-mail, peer to peer or chatroom issues.

With e-mail, children could be sent offensive content by friends or strangers;

Peer to peer networks such as BitTorrent can allow children to download entire pornographic movies from other users and are as easy to use as websites.

Pornographic material can be exchanged in chatrooms and, even more concerning, children can be approached by potential attackers.

Clean feed is not able to analyse and block websites based on more sophisticated techniques such as skin tones and as soon as a website has been identified and put on the Clean Feed list – the providers of the site just change their host to get around it.

It is also doubtful that Clean Feed could be scaled effectively to cover the whole range of pornography on the Internet.

As the chief executive of the Internet Industry Association Peter Coroneos said: ‘mandatory ISP filtering sounds like a good idea in theory, but it adds very little to the current scheme, which exceeds the protections of the clean-feed system in Britain '.

The issues with Clean Feed are symptomatic of the broader problems with filtering at the ISP level.

The Government has looked at the efficacy of ISP-level filtering three times; firstly in 1999, a CSIRO technical trial; in 2003-04 as part of the review of the Online Content Scheme; and last year during a trial conducted by NetAlert, involving RMIT and ACMA.

Each report has found significant problems with content filter products operating at the ISP-level.

I acknowledge that there is another trial of ISP filtering currently underway in Tasmania and I will consider the outcomes of that trial.

Revealingly, no advanced economy in the world has introduced mandatory server level filtering. And even where it has been introduced – in countries such as Saudi Arabia , China and Pakistan – it has proven problematic.

All these countries have experienced high levels of circumvention of these controls with industrious users using the phone system to contact an ISP in another country or using proxies to bypass the controls.

Evidence from the Saudi trials suggests that the central filtering system currently blocks a list of more than 12 million addresses, slowing Internet access by as much as half, with up to 10 per cent of sites still getting through.

And Internet users can already access step by step guides for side-stepping ISP filtering from the Internet itself.

The Australian trials have also found the effect on performance of the Internet by ISP filtering to be substantial and a lack of scalability of the filters to larger ISPs.

Any filtering mechanism needs to be both effective at blocking unwanted content as well as having a minimal impact on the performance of the network.

Like Clean Feed ISP filtering does not deal with issues related to e-mail, peer to peer or instant messaging.

It also doesn't allow the user to customise filtering levels to suit different ages or family values a Professor of Gynaecology will have very different requirements to a seven year old.

But most importantly ISP level filtering cannot not log children's activity to allow for parental monitoring.

Some argue that people who do not want ISP filtering would be able to opt out and that any success rate at blocking offensive sites is at least some progress in the fight against porn.

The reality is that Internet users who are getting large amounts of innocent material blocked are likely to be so frustrated that they opt out of filtering and leave themselves unprotected.

The other danger is promoting the notion that the Internet is now ‘filtered' or ‘clean' when pornography would still be relatively easy to access or the pushers of such content would find ways around the filter.

This risks creating a false sense of security and may encourage parents to abandon other methods of protecting their children.

It is not the amount of money required to implement such a system but the effectiveness of the system that is most important to the Government. That is why we support PC based filtering.

PC based filtering 

It is also the most effective option that is compatible with the Government's aim to encourage greater take-up of broadband in this country.

At a time when Australian consumers are crying out for faster and faster broadband and the Government is investing $1.1 billion to deliver just that, the impact ISP level filtering would have on performance of the Internet is an important consideration.

However, the simple fact is the closer the filter is located to the end user – the greater the content it can effectively block.

A PC based filter does more than simply protect children on the web, it gives parents much more effective control over all aspects of their children's activity online.

I read an article recently where the columnist was horrified to learn what was going on in cyberspace.

Her teenage daughter had frequented a website where she could mock up a cartoon character representing herself and be picked up and taken to a quiet bedroom with a refrigerator by another male ‘cartoon character'.

None of this activity would be stopped by ISP filtering but it can be stopped by a PC based filter and a vigilant and aware parent.

Some people have raised the technical difficulty of setting up and updating a filter as reasons for not supporting PC based filtering.

I acknowledge those concerns. But while the technology can seem daunting for parents – the systems are getting simpler by the day. Many of the self-install systems on the market can be set up by running a CD-Rom.

While the Government can educate, regulate and legislate to protect families, we cannot sit in your home and supervise your children using the computer.

But parents can. You wouldn't send your child out to ride their bike without a helmet, let them get into the car without putting on their seatbelt or jump into a pool if they don't know how to swim.

So why would you be content to let your child venture into cyberspace with no protection or education about the dangers?

As part of the Government's comprehensive approach to protecting families online I have under active consideration measures to improve the take-up of filtering technology in Australia .

This would be complemented by more stringent regulatory measures to ensure that ISPs are complying with requirements and bolstering NetAlert to strengthen its educational role.

But in the meantime there are measures we can take now to ensure as technology continually moves forward, we can ensure our children are protected.

Convergence 

While there are many positive benefits to advancements of technology, the evolution of devices such as mobile phones or mobile TV pose challenges for Government in terms of regulating content which may be offensive or illegal.

In recognition of these issues, last year I asked my Department to undertake a review of the regulation of content delivered to convergent mobile communications devices.

The Government also directed ACMA to require appropriate restrictions to be placed on access by minors to adult content on mobile services.

Last year, a service provider determination was implemented that prohibits the supply of illegal content and requires mobile Carriage Service Providers to restrict access to content suited only to adults.

It also requires adult content provided via premium rate SMS and MMS to be carried on a restricted number range and for child safety measures to be in place for mobile chat room services.

Content Over Convergent 

Devices Existing content regulation in Australia has been specific to the platform over which it is delivered (for example, television, the Internet or telephones).

The new capabilities of mobile devices to receive and display audiovisual services means that some of these platforms – and thus regulatory – distinctions are being broken down.

Mobile devices can enable access to premium voice, text and audio-visual services and, with the potential for mobile television broadcasts (using the DVB-H standard), even television content.

These developments raise the question of the way traditionally distinct content regulatory systems should apply to a single converged device.

At the very least, consumers are not likely to have an understanding that because they are using a different aspect of their mobile device to access some content (say an MMS download as opposed to surfing the web), that different content rules might apply.

The challenge for Government is to provide a regulatory framework that is sensible for both how content is accessed today and how it is likely to be accessed in the future.

The Government has explicitly recognised this challenge both in the regulatory policy underpinning communications legislation and in the terms of reference for the convergent devices review.

While the Government supports the development of innovative new communications services, these new content services may also potentially carry offensive or harmful content.

Therefore I can announce today that new safeguards will be put in place to protect consumers from inappropriate or harmful material on emerging content services such as 3G mobile phones and subscription-based Internet portals.

I will soon introduce to Parliament legislation to provide content safeguards comparable to those in place for traditional media platforms.

It will extend the current safeguards that apply to content delivered over the Internet or television to be applied to content delivered over convergent devices. This will include prohibition of content rated X18+ and above, as well as requirements for consumer advice and age-restrictions on access to content suited only to adults.

These prohibitions will be backed by strong sanctions for non-compliance with the new regulatory framework, including criminal penalties for serious offences.

These initiatives show how seriously this Government takes the issue of protecting children from inappropriate and offensive content.

Conclusion 

The Government is firmly committed to keeping our children and families safe online. New technologies and the growth and pervasiveness of the Internet provide us with many opportunities to make our lives better and easier.

But we must ensure that they do not provide a pipeline for perversion into the home computer or your child's mobile phone. Because of rapid technological changes. I will not rule out any potential solution that will help parents and protect families.

The Government's approach to protecting families online is a work in progress and will not cease to look for ways to equip Australian families with the tools to crack down on the scourge of inappropriate or illegal material on the Internet.

***

Senator the Hon Helen Coonan
Minister for Communication, Information Technology and the Arts
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Media Release
053/06 
14 June 2006

New safeguards for emerging audio-visual content 

New safeguards will be put in place to protect consumers from inappropriate or harmful material on emerging content services such as 3G mobile phones and subscription-based Internet portals, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced today.

“The Government supports the development of innovative new communications services which provide access to the Internet, email, games, instant messaging, chat rooms, video clips and television programs,” the Minister said.

“However, these new content services may also potentially carry offensive or harmful content and we need to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect children from exposure to content that might be harmful.”

A recent Review of the Regulation of Content Delivered Over Convergent Devices found there is a need for specific safeguards for users of these services.

“I will soon bring to Parliament legislative measures to provide safeguards comparable to those in place for traditional media,” the Minister said.

“It will extend the current safeguards that apply to content delivered over the Internet or television to be applied to content delivered over convergent devices.

“This will include prohibition of content rated X18+ and above, requirements for consumer advice and age-restricting access to content suited only to adults.”

Strong sanctions will apply for non-compliance with the new regulatory framework, including criminal penalties for serious offences.

This range of initiatives shows how seriously this Government takes the issue of protecting children from inappropriate and offensive content.

The report of the Review is available on the DCITA website at

***

Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

Review of the regulation of content delivered over convergent devices

Terms of reference for the Review of the Regulation of Content Delivered Over Convergent Devices (the review) were announced by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts on 15 July 2004.

The review has reported its findings to the Minister.

The review report proposes the establishment of a new regulatory framework for convergent content services in Australia. See the media release here.

The report is available for download in PDF format.

To obtain a printed copy telephone the Department's Broadcasting and Online Content Section on: 02 6271 1042.

***

MEDIA STATEMENT 
Senator Stephen Conroy Deputy Opposition Leader in the Senate Shadow Minister for Communications And Information Technology 

14 June 2006 

Australian families deserve better than Coonan's empty rhetoric on net porn 

Senator Coonan's address at the press club today confirmed that the Government is still unwilling to do all that it can to protect Australian families from damaging images of violence and extreme pornography Many parents are rightly concerned about the ease with which their children are able to use the internet to access harmful content In March, Kim Beazley announced that Labor would require all internet service providers to offer parents, schools and libraries a clean feed that would block out this dangerous material. International experience from Britain, Norway and Sweden demonstrates that ISP filtering is feasible. Clean Feed is essential additional layer of protection for Australian children. Under Labor's policy, clean feed is part of a comprehensive package to address the dangers of illegal internet content. Labor supports greater parental education, the use of pc based filters and more resources being allocated to law enforcement to combat this growing problem. The Government's reliance on pc based filtering ignores the fact that two thirds of households don’t have these filters installed on their family computer. The Government's flawed regulatory regime does nothing to protect children in these homes. Senator Coonan's intransigence on this issue puts her at odds with more than 60 members of her backbench who support Labor's policy of mandatory ISP filtering. The fact that Senator Coonan today arrogantly dismissed her colleagues views as being 'not well informed' shows just how out of touch she is with her backbench and the Australian people. Senator Coonan needs to swallow her pride and adopt Labor's clean feed policy. There are no excuses for the Government's failure to do all that it can to protect Australian families from offensive and harmful internet content. 

***

GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO FAMILY FIRST'S CALLS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM PORN 

FAMILY FIRST is pleased the Government has responded to our calls to crack down on violent and pornographic content which is ruining our children's minds. 

However, it is disappointing the Government has still not produced any legislation, considering it set up its review two years ago. 

FAMILY FIRST has been calling for tighter controls on mobile phones as well as a ban on Internet Pornography, with mandatory filtering at the Internet Service Provider (ISP) level. 

Mobile phones are danger zones for kids as they are also digital cameras, video recorders, music players and Internet browsers. They can be windows to pornography, violent games, music downloads with inappropriate content and chat services with potentially paedophiles.

FAMILY FIRST wants: 

• No access to mobile chat services for children under 18; 

• Service providers required to make owners, particularly parents, aware of any risks to children and how to reduce them; 

• A ban on Internet Pornography because mobile phones can access the Internet. 

A recent study by the University of Western Sydney found the average age for a child to own their first phone is 9. Parents cannot always supervise mobile phone use and have no idea what their kids might be exposed to. 

It has been estimated the global market for pornographic content on mobile phones will be $US1 billion in just three years. 

***

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: Internet Safety

Date 15 June, 2006 Database Senate Hansard

Questioner: Fielding, Sen Steve (Leader of the Family First Party, FFP, Victoria, Opposition) 
Responder: Coonan, Sen Helen (Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, LP, New South Wales)
Interjector: Conroy, Sen Stephen; Fielding, Sen Steve; Faulkner, Sen John; PRESIDENT, The 
Page 48
Proof: Yes 
Source: Senate
Type: Question 
Context: Questions Without Notice

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Internet Safety Question Senator FIELDING (2.32 p.m.)—My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. I draw the minister’s attention to reports last year which revealed that all of Sweden’s 11 top telecommunications providers have agreed to block internet child pornography. If Sweden’s top telecommunications providers can block pornography, why can’t Australia’s tier 1 ISPs do the same?

Answer Senator COONAN—I thank Senator Fielding for the question and for his interest in what is a significant issue for all parents in the community, indeed all families and the community more broadly. I am not sure that Senator Fielding’s information is correct but if ISP providers wish to provide filters at server level that is entirely a matter for them. What is the case, and I think I can say this without contradiction, is that there is simply no government in the developed world that has mandated, insisted on or endorsed server-level filtering. I think I am correct in saying that. If Senator Fielding can provide other information, I am very interested to hear it.

As I have said, the difficulties with server-level filtering are quite significant. This government has looked at it on three separate occasions: in 1999 in a CSIRO technical trial; in 2003-04 as part of the review of the online content scheme; and in late 2005 in a trial conducted by NetAlert that involved the RMIT and ACMA, the regulator. Indeed, there is another trial going on in Launceston and I will look very critically at that. Each report has found very significant problems with content filter products operating at that level, such that they tend to overblock all forms of content, including quite innocent content that needs to be accessed for quite legitimate purposes. They have been unable to effectively scale up to a larger network. These systems have been known to have problems on a smaller network in a very controlled environment, and the ability to scale up to a large network is very difficult to achieve.

They have been unable to analyse and block websites based on more sophisticated techniques such as skin tones. Many have provided no protection at all for children using chat rooms. Children are totally vulnerable under this arrangement to predators approaching them on chat rooms through peer to peer, through file downloading or through email traffic. None of the ISP filters that have been tested will block that kind of trash that affects our kids. Many do not allow the ability to customise filtering levels so that parents can do something to control the level of content that they get so that different members of the family can have different access arrangements. They do not allow parents to log children’s activities so there cannot be any parental monitoring. We think the drawbacks are significant and that PC based filters, if properly understood and installed, provide the best opportunity to effectively address this very pernicious pornography and to enable parents to take control and to make the right decisions on behalf of their children.

Interjection Senator Conroy interjecting—

Continue Senator COONAN—Senator Conroy does not care about it, Senator Fielding, and thinks that it is a huge joke. This government regards it as an incredibly important policy initiative and I am looking forward to shortly announcing an enhanced arrangement to stop this pernicious traffic on the net.

Question Senator FIELDING—Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I note the minister’s answer, and I look forward to bringing the minister up to date with what is happening in Sweden. Minister, given the federal government is still the majority shareholder in Telstra, if the government is serious about protecting Australian children from pornography, why does it not require Telstra to participate in the internet filtering trial in Tasmania?

Answer Senator COONAN—What I will be looking forward to is Senator Fielding telling me what country in the world mandates ISP-level filtering. I will be very interested if Senator Fielding wants to bring me up to date on that information, because I think he is dead wrong. However, what is important is that this government will continue to take the most effective action that we possibly can to deal with this issue on the net. Because technology changes, we will not rule out looking ultimately at ISP filtering but we are certainly not going to interfere in the commercial arrangements of providers and we will continue to do the very best we can with PC based filters.

Interjection Senator Fielding—I would remind the minister about the question that I asked requiring Telstra to participate in the internet filtering trial in Tasmania. That is what the supplementary question was about.

Interjection Senator Faulkner—She never answers questions!

Interjection The PRESIDENT—I think the minister has completed her answer.

***

Kick terror off net. The Advertiser 18.06.06

FEDERAL Cabinet has discussed filtering internet providers to block access to terrorist websites.

It is understood Attorney-General Philip Ruddock questioned whether filtering systems might also be used to fight terrorism.

Terrorist organisations use the internet as a powerful tool, posting messages inciting violence and information on how to make bombs and other weapons. The seizure of computer hard drives has figured in several raids on alleged terrorists by Australian police.

Filters work by identifying prohibited sites and "trigger words". The communication is then blocked.

Contacted by the Sunday Mail yesterday, Mr Ruddock refused to discuss precise details about any proposal.

But are there a wider range of issues centred on access via the internet? The answer is yes," he said. "There needs to be ongoing and closer collaboration with internet providers, but a lot of these are dealt with outside our legal jurisdiction.

"I note China has been able to do some of these things. We would like to keep our options open."

Mr Ruddock's singling out of China is likely to be seen as controversial by civil liberties advocates here.

***

STATE AND TERRITORY GOVERNMENTS MUST BLOCK ONLINE PORN IN LIBRARIES

State and Territory Governments should require public libraries to ban Internet Pornography as a condition of receiving state funding. 

FAMILY FIRST is alarmed and angry that public libraries are not required by law to install filtering software to block online porn, which includes rape, bestiality and other violent material. 

An Australian Family Association survey in March of public libraries in Victoria, the ACT and NSW found almost 80 per cent failed to protect children from internet pornography. 

Parents can supervise their children at home but many would have no idea what their children could be seeing when they log on at the local library. 

This is a huge community concern but the only State to have acted is Tasmania, where the Government has said it would require filters to be installed on library computers this year. 

Governments are simply washing their hands of the issue. They give millions of dollars every year to councils and have a duty to create a safe Internet environment for our kids. 

Surely we should be doing everything we can to protect our kids from such vile material on the Internet. 

Pornography is big business on the Internet and our children are at risk of becoming victims. 

***

Senator the Hon Helen Coonan
Minister for Communication, Information Technology and the Arts
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Media Release
058/06 
21 June 2006

$116.6 million to Protect Australian Families Online 

The Government will create a National Filter Scheme to provide every Australian family with a free Internet filter as part of a $116.6 million comprehensive package of measures to crack down on the scourge of Internet pornography, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced today.

The National Filter Scheme is the centrepiece of the Australian Government’s Protecting Families Online package. Protecting Families Online will also include measures to provide Australian libraries with free filters so computer corners at libraries across Australia will become child-friendly zones.

As part of the implementation of this package the National Library of Australia will be required to provide filtering on all of its public access Internet terminals, with the option of disabling the filter when the terminals are being used by adults.

Internet safety agency NetAlert will be co-located with the regulator – the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) – and receive an additional $5 million to expand its educational activities and more actively promote its website and 1800 number as a one-stop information shop for parents with Internet safety concerns.

A comprehensive national community education campaign will also be conducted to ensure that all Australian families are aware of the benefits of regulating their children’s Internet experience by using a safe and effective computer filter.

In an effort to ensure that we are using the most effective means at our disposal to crack down on offensive and inappropriate material on the Internet, ACMA will undertake a further trial of ISP based filtering in Tasmania. This will be the fourth time the Government has examined the effectiveness of ISP-level filtering.

ACMA will also be required to provide an annual report on international trends in ISP-level filtering and will work closely with NetAlert to investigate technological improvements in filtering technology.

“This is the single biggest commitment to protecting families online in the history of the Internet in Australia,” Senator Coonan said.

“It is proof positive that the Australian Government considers the safety of children and families when they are online to be paramount. This comprehensive package of measures continues our long-standing commitment to legislating, regulating and educating children and families about the dangers lurking on the Net.

“It puts a safer Internet experience within the grasp of every Australian family and it is a solution to the problem posed by Internet pornography that is simple, safe, effective and free.

“Every parent will be able to receive a free filter for their home computer, there will be child-safe terminals in libraries across Australia and our Internet safety agency will be better resourced to undertake an education blitz across Australia to ensure all Australians know about the benefits of filtering out unwanted or illegal material on the Internet.

“This is not a one-size-fits-all approach to protecting Australia families and we are not dictating to every Australian Internet user what they should and shouldn’t see.

“Protecting Australian Families Online is about educating parents about the dangers lurking on the Internet and equipping them with the tools they need to make sure when their children venture into cyberspace, they do so safely.

“You wouldn’t send your child out to ride their bike without a helmet, or let them travel in a car without a seatbelt, so why would we let them surf the Internet without the protection of an effective filter?

“The Government’s Protecting Australian Families Online package will put a safer Internet experience within the grasp of every Australian family.”

The Protecting Families Online package complements the range of measures already in place to protect Australian families including $35 million for the Australian Federal Police to ensure they have the powers and resources to target, infiltrate and shut-down organised online paedophile networks.

Protecting Australian Families Online:

National Filter Scheme

The National Filter Scheme will receive $93.3 million over three years to provide Australian families with the technology and support to protect their children in a rapidly changing online environment. The Internet industry will continue to offer filters or a filtered service after the initial three year period, at no cost to families.

Under this scheme, families will be offered a filtered service or a free filter for their home computer either for download from a dedicated website or delivered to them on CD-ROM. All ISPs will also be required to offer filters to new and existing customers at no additional cost.

The filters will allow parents to set access limits based on their own family values to protect children from offensive content on the Internet and emerging new mobile content services.

The scheme will be administered by the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts with the support of NetAlert, and will accredit a panel of filters for distribution that have been tested and approved by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for efficacy and minimum filter standards.

To make it easy for parents to install and operate these systems, filter providers will be required to offer phone support. NetAlert provides a free service for parents to seek more generic advice for Internet safety issues that can be accessed by ringing 1800 880 176.

Child-safe computers in Australian public libraries

The protections offered by free home-based PC filters will be extended to cover those families who do not have access to the Internet in their homes and rely on public libraries to provide this service.

The National Filter Scheme will provide free filters to all public libraries nationally. As part of the implementation of this package the National Library of Australia will be required to provide filtering on all of its public access Internet terminals, with the option of disabling the filter when the terminals are being used by adults.

In conjunction with the responsible State, Territory and Local Governments, libraries will be encouraged to mirror the action required of the National Library of Australia and make as many of their computers as possible child-safe.

NetAlert funding

The Government’s Internet advisory body, NetAlert, will receive $5 million in additional funding over three years to restructure and improve its effectiveness.

This package will include moving NetAlert from Hobart to co-locate the organisation with ACMA’s Melbourne office, expanding its educational activities and more actively promoting its website and 1800 number as the first stop for parents with Internet safety concerns.

Review of filtering technology

The Government will keep ISP-level Internet content filtering technology under regular review and will conduct another trial of ISP-level filtering technology in Tasmania.

ACMA will be required to provide an annual report on international trends in ISP-level filtering and will work closely with NetAlert to investigate technological improvements in filtering technology.

Through ACMA, the Government will provide a watching brief on new technologies to ensure Australian families are offered the best available filtering.

Community information campaign

A community information campaign will provide information promoting the free filter initiative and detailed information advising parents how they can access free filters and Internet safety information.

***

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: Information Technology: Internet Censorship

Date: 21 June, 2006 
Database: Senate Hansard
Questioner: Barnett, Sen Guy (LP, Tasmania, Government) 
Responder: Coonan, Sen Helen (Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, LP, New South Wales)
Page: 46 
Proof: Yes
Source: Senate 
Type: Question
Context: Questions Without Notice Size 6Kb

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Information Technology: Internet Censorship Question Senator BARNETT (2.25 p.m.)—My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, the Hon. Senator Coonan. It is with great pleasure that I ask this question. In fact, this is my favourite and best question that I have had this year. Will the minister advise the Senate of how the Howard government is fighting back against the scourge of internet pornography? Is the minister aware of any alternative policies?

Answer Senator COONAN—I thank Senator Barnett for the question and for his longstanding interest in this matter. I also acknowledge the longstanding interest of Senator Fielding in these issues. Today I am very pleased to announce a new $116.6 million package to protect Australian children and families on the internet. The Protecting Australian Families Online package is about educating parents about the dangers lurking on the internet and equipping them with the tools they need to make sure that, when their children venture into cyberspace, they do so safely. You would not send your children out to ride a bike without a helmet or let them travel in a car without a seatbelt, so, as parents, why would we let them surf the internet without the protection of an effective filter? After a comprehensive evaluation on the best way forward, it is clear to me that the solution needs to be simple, effective, safe and free. The government’s Protecting Australian Families Online package that I am announcing today will put a safer internet experience within the grasp of every Australian family.

Today I can announce that the government will provide every Australian family that wants one with a free internet filter or filtered service. Protecting Australian Families Online will also include free filters for Australian libraries so that they can set up child-friendly filtered computers in every library across the country. I will be encouraging my state and territory counterparts to ensure libraries in their states take up this offer. Internet safety agency NetAlert will now be co-located with the regulator, ACMA, in Melbourne. It will also receive an additional $5 million to expand its educational activities and more actively promote its website and 1800 number as a one-stop information shop for parents with internet safety concerns. A comprehensive national community education campaign worth $18.2 million will also be conducted to ensure that all Australian families are aware of the benefits of regulating their children’s internet experience by using a safe and efficient PC based filter.

The Protecting Australian Families Online package complements the range of measures already in place to protect Australian families. In an effort to ensure that we are using the most effective means at our disposal to crack down on offensive and inappropriate material on the internet, ACMA will undertake a further trial of ISP based filtering in Tasmania. Unlike the ALP with their so-called clean feed, which is far from clean, we are more interested in effective solutions rather than half-baked ones. We want parents to have comprehensive tools rather than a false sense of security. We are focused on a safer internet rather than a catchy sound bite. The Howard government will continue to help parents protect their children on the internet as part of our ongoing commitment to the safety of Australian families.

***

The Internet Industry Association
National Industry Body Applauds Government Empowerment Scheme Wednesday, 21 June 2006 

The Internet Industry Association today welcomed the Federal Government's historic funding announcement regarding internet filters for Australian families and public libraries and support for the community advisory body, NetAlert. For Immediate Release

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) today welcomed the Federal Government's historic funding announcement regarding internet filters for Australian families and public libraries and support for the community advisory body, NetAlert.

IIA chief executive, Peter Coroneos said that the new initiative built on an already sophisticated system of child internet protection operating in Australia under enforceable industry codes of practice and the IIA's Family Friendly internet scheme.

"Without doubt, this commitment puts Australia at the forefront of online child safety anywhere - by a country mile. This will be recognised internationally as the most advanced system of family protection on offer to citizens anywhere in the world."

"The free filters and public awareness campaign, when combined with industry support, mean there is now absolutely no reason why any child in Australia should be exposed to unsuitable content online."

Mr Coroneos added: "This scheme should put paid to any residual community concerns about children accessing inappropriate material while on the internet."

"We agree with the Government's conclusion that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to child safety. New generation filters allow each family to easily customise its own settings according to the age of children and their own values."

"Today’s filters put the control where it belongs, into the hands of parents. Filters are simple to install and use, and effective. Nowadays, many not only cover web content, but can also help manage chat sessions and email."

"While there is never going to be a substitute for adult supervision, particularly for young children, filters can make the job a lot easier - while still allowing children to enjoy the enormous benefits that the internet offers."

"We congratulate the Government for this substantial commitment to online child safety and pledge industry's support to work with them to maximise the benefits to all Australian internet users," said Mr Coroneos.

Ends.

More:

The IIA has in force three industry Codes of Practice applying to all ISPs, content hosts and mobile providers in Australia. These are backed by legislation and are enforceable by the regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). A copy of the Codes and information about the IIA's Family Friendly Internet scheme can be found at: www.iia.net.au/guideuser.html

For further comment please contact:

Peter Coroneos
Chief Executive
Internet Industry Association (IIA)
Phone: +61 2 6232 6900

The Internet Industry Association is Australia's national Internet industry organisation. Members include telecommunications carriers; content creators and publishers; web developers; e-commerce traders and solutions providers; hardware vendors; systems integrators, insurance underwriters; Internet law firms, ISPs; educational and training institutions; Internet research analysts; and a range of other businesses providing professional and technical support services. On behalf of its members, the IIA provides policy input to government and advocacy on a range of business and regulatory issues, to promote laws and initiatives which enhance access, equity, reliability and growth of the medium within Australia.

***

Australian Labor Party
Lindsay Tanner
Shadow Minister for Finance
Media Statement - 21st June 2006 
Government Not Serious On Internet Porn

Today’s announcement by Senator Coonan that the Government will provide free Internet porn filters is yet another effort to avoid the issue.

Only months ago the Government was claiming that no further action was required to tackle the widespread exposure, both deliberate and accidental, of children to the most extreme pornography imaginable on the Internet.

Under pressure from Labor’s commitment to require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to filter out the pornography at source, the Government now proposes to force taxpayers to pay for a scattergun solution which will be partially effective at best.

The only way to deal effectively with this problem is to tackle it at its source. Many families will not even know about the Government’s subsidy, let alone use it. Recent research shows that a very large proportion of children are accessing extreme pornography on the Internet. Labor’s approach is already in place and operating in the United Kingdom, through British Telecom.

Instead of trying to look like it’s doing something, the Government should tackle the problem directly. Make ISPs responsible for filtering out extreme pornography, and protect Australian kids.

***

INTERNET PORN CHANGES GOOD BUT NOT ENOUGH FAMILY FIRST

FAMILY FIRST welcomes the Government's announcement of a National Filter Scheme to help protect children from Internet pornography. 

But FAMILY FIRST is disappointed the Government has failed to deliver mandatory filtering at the Internet Service Provider (ISP) level. 

That is what FAMILY FIRST has been calling for, for almost a year. It is only by mandatory filtering at the ISP level that we can help protect ALL children from exposure to pornography. 

As a first step, we should filter the worst sites at the ISP level because that also sends a message to industry that it has a role in helping to protect our kids. 

FAMILY FIRST recognises that PC-based filters are important but only one-third of Australian parents have installed them. 

Free filter software for public libraries sounds good, but libraries don't have to install it. 

It is not enough just to hand over free filters. The Government should require all State and Territory Governments to install filters on their public library computers as a matter of urgency. 

FAMILY FIRST calls on Communications Minister Helen Coonan to write to relevant State and Territory Ministers to ensure they take responsibility for having the filters installed in libraries to protect our kids. 

Surely we should be doing EVERYTHING we can to protect our kids from this vile material. 

***

Your Say: Internet filters: what do you think? SMH 21.06.06

About 2.5 million families are expected to take up the Government's offer of free software to stop children from accessing internet pornography.

***

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: Internet Pornography
Date: 22 June, 2006 
Database: House Hansard
Questioner: Beazley, Kim, MP (Brand, ALP, Opposition) 
Responder: Howard, John, MP (Bennelong, Prime Minister, LP)
Page: 52 
Proof: Yes
Source: House 
Type: Question
Context: Questions Without Notice 
Main Committee: No

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Internet Pornography Question Mr BEAZLEY (2.45 p.m.)—My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the government’s belated response to Labor’s plan to protect Australian children from internet pornography. Why does the government continue to refuse to adopt Labor’s clean-feed policy that would block internet porn at the ISP level? Why does the Prime Minister continue to ignore the views of the Australian Families Association and 62 members of his own backbench by refusing to block pornography at the source? Why won’t the government swallow its pride and put the interests of Australian children ahead of its political interests and adopt Labor’s clean-feed policy?

Answer Mr HOWARD—In reply to the Leader of the Opposition’s question, I would have thought protection of Australian children was not only an absolute priority but also in the political interests of all political parties. I do not think it is exclusively in the interests of my party any more than it ought to be in the interests of the Australian Labor Party. The reason we have adopted the policy outlined yesterday by the Minister for Communications, Information Economy and the Arts is that it achieves the goals of providing protection for Australian children without imposing the unreasonable restrictions and cost burdens of the Labor Party’s policy.

***

Your Say: Censoring the internet. SMH 22.06.06

As the Federal Government promises free porn filters to families, the question of government interference with the internet has been thrust back into the spotlight. Do we need a $116 million project to protect us from the web or is this a waste of money and an intrusion into civil liberties?

***

SMH 22.06.06
Stay in Touch
XXX MARKS THE SPOT

The Federal Government's brave new world of internet censorship booted up to a bad start yesterday just as Minister for Information Technology, Helen Coonan, prepared to announce its $117 million "family values" internet filter plan.

Six-year-old Philippa Gazard, daughter of a government staffer, was the guinea pig for the media, and a giant screen above her head was to show how the filter came into effect when she logged her laptop telephone number onto the net. Alas, words deemed offensive, including "tit", "boob", "breast" and count without the O, flashed onto the screen.

***

Media watchdog shuts porn sites. SMH 05.07.06

Australia's media watchdog has sought the removal of almost 250 pornographic web pages and other internet postings over the first four months of this year.

Official figures from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) showed the watchdog received 293 complaints from January to April and acted on 236 of them.

Of the total, 12 web pages which attracted take-down notices were posted in Australia, with the remainder appearing on overseas sites.

Nine of the Australian notices related to explicit depictions of children, with one of bestiality, one of actual sexual activity and another of sexual fantasy.

Most of the objectionable overseas web pages related to explicit depictions of children, with 140 identified by ACMA.

***

Australian Communications and Media Authority
Media Release
21 August 2006
MR 87/2006

ACMA invites public comment on amended mobile premium services rules The Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking public comment on a draft amendment to the rules governing the provision of mobile premium services.

The Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 (No.1) provides rules to restrict and prohibit access to certain categories of content accessible via mobile premium rate numbers and mobile carrier portals.

The Determination also provides for the development of a self-regulatory scheme by mobile carriage service providers and content service providers that contains consumer-protection and complaint-handling measures for these services.

The Determination assumed that a self-regulatory scheme would be developed by the Telephone Information Services Standards Council (TISSC), the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), and members of the Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA). ACMA has been advised that TISSC will not be included in the scheme.

‘To accommodate this change in industry involvement in the self-regulatory scheme, the Determination needs to be amended to ensure that the scheme will be fully operational,’ said Nerida O’Loughlin, General Manager of ACMA’s Industry Outputs Division.

To assist the administration of the Determination and the self-regulatory scheme approved under it, the draft amendment also includes proposals to:

The closing date for submissions is Friday 1 September 2006.

Media contact: Donald Robertson, ACMA Media Manager on (02) 9334 7980

Backgrounder 

ACMA is authorised under section 99 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 to make a written determination setting out rules that apply to service providers in relation to the supply of either specified carriage or content services. The determination is called a service provider determination.

The Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 (No.1) was made on 29 June 2005 and includes rules relating to the content of mobile premium services and safety of children using mobile chat services. It also provides for industry to develop a self-regulatory scheme that contains rules to protect users of these services from unexpected high bills, and to provide for handling complaints about these services.

***

Primary porn scandal a wake-up call. The Daily Telegraph 21.08.06

AN incident revealed today by The Daily Telegraph in which a primary school student showed classmates nude photos on his mobile should act as a wake-up call for parents about children's vulnerability, NSW's peak parents group says.

It is the first known case in NSW of mobile phone technology being used to spread explicit or pornographic images in a primary school.

The suspended student – a Year 5 boy – allegedly showed the photos to at least eight children at Castle Hill Public School.

But the school principal has written to the families of 123 children in the grade warning that they may have "come into contact" with the material.

The Year 5 student, who has not been identified, was given a two-day suspension on Thursday last week after the incident was uncovered.

***

Phone porn suspension rule 'unclear'. SMH 22.08.06

There was no suggestion that the boy had used school computers to download the images from the internet to his mobile phone.

According to guidelines issued by the NSW Department of Education, principals must immediately suspend any student who is physically violent or who is in possession of prohibited weapons or illicit drugs.

Short suspensions may be imposed for continued disobedience or aggressive behaviour, while long suspensions are available where short suspensions have not resolved the issue, or the behaviour "is so serious as to warrant a long suspension''.

There is no specific mention of an appropriate sanction to be used when students are found with pornography.

The general manager of the internet safety advisory body NetAlert, Lara MacDonell, said the case was an example of how teachers were struggling to keep up with new technology.

"Schools have a long way to go,'' Ms MacDonell said.

"A very high percentage of teachers lack awareness and knowledge of [internet safety] technology.''

***

Content safeguards extended to mobile phones New safeguards to protect consumers from inappropriate or harmful material delivered over 3G mobile phones and similar devices will go a long way to protecting children from incidents such as those reported in today’s Daily Telegraph, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said today.

“However, while the Government will take every measure possible to protect children using new technologies, parents and educators must remain ever vigilant to ensure children are safe,” Senator Coonan said.

“Like the Internet, increasingly sophisticated hardware such as mobile phones can be a vital communications tool, but in inexperienced hands they can become a pipeline for perversion.

“Recognising the challenge that next generation mobile phones pose for regulating content which may be offensive or illegal, I will shortly put in place new safeguards to protect consumers when they are using 3G mobile phones and subscription based Internet portals.

“I will soon introduce to Parliament legislation to extend the current safeguards that apply to content delivered over the Internet or television to content delivered over convergent devices such as mobile phones.

“This will include prohibition of content rated X18+ and above, as well as requirements for consumer advice and age-restrictions on access to content suited only to adults. These prohibitions will be backed by strong sanctions for non-compliance with the new regulatory framework, including criminal penalties for serious offences.

“To complement these measures the Government also recently announced the $116.6 million Protecting Australian Families Online package which, among other measures, will provide every Australian family with a free Internet filter or a filtered service on their home computer.

“There will also be a comprehensive information campaign to help educate parents about how best to keep their children safe when using the Internet and technologies such as 3G mobile phones.

“These initiatives show how seriously this Government takes the issue of protecting children from inappropriate and offensive content and helping parents to understand and deal with these devices in the hands of their children.

***

Subjects: Downloading to mobile phones

JOURNALIST: Mr Beazley there’s been an incident in New South Wales where a Year 5 schoolboy had used his mobile phone to download porn and show his school chums. Are you concerned about that, is there anything the Government can do? 

BEAZLEY: I certainly think there is something the Government can do. They can adopt our policy of putting in place filters at the point of providers not at the point of your home computer but at the point of the provider. That’s what the Government should do and then the kiddie would not be turning those sorts of things up on his phone or for that matter on his iPod.

***

Petition: Information Technology: Internet Content

Date: 10 October, 2006 
Database: Senate Hansard
Presenter: Senator Calvert 
Page: 28
Proof: Yes 
Source: Senate
Type: Petition 
Context: Petitions

The internet is a great educational tool. However children can too easily access pictures of violent cruelty and extreme pornography on the internet. Labor wants a “clean feed” technology that can block access to these kinds of sites.

To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled:

This petition of certain citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the Senate, the danger of children accessing internet pornography and other internet pages.

Your petitioners therefore ask the Senate to make laws that:

All internet service providers be required to offer a “clean feed” internet service to all households, schools and public libraries that blocks access to websites containing child pornography, acts of extreme violence and x-rated material. 

by The President (from 16 citizens)

***

Petition: Information Technology: Internet Content

Date: 11 October, 2006 
Database: Senate Hansard
Presenter: Senator Carol Brown 
Page: 53
Proof: Yes 
Source: Senate
Type: Petition 
Context: Petitions

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled

We, the undersigned citizens of Australia draw to the attention of the Senate the common incidence of children being exposed to Internet websites portraying explicit sexual images. These images may involve children/teens, sexual violence, bestiality, and other disturbing material. Many such websites use aggressive, deceptive or intrusive techniques to induce viewing. We submit to the Senate that:

by Senator Carol Brown (from 15 citizens). 

Petitions received.

***

Petition: Information Technology: Internet Content

Date: 17 October, 2006 
Database: Senate Hansard
Presenter: Senator McGauran
Page: 29
Proof: Yes 
Source: Senate
Type: Petition 
Context: Petitions

To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled

We, the undersigned citizens of Australia draw to the attention of the Senate the common incidence of children being exposed to Internet websites portraying explicit sexual images. These images may involve children/teens, sexual violence, bestiality, and other disturbing material. Many such websites use aggressive, deceptive or intrusive techniques to induce viewing. We submit to the Senate that:

by Senator McGauran (from 15 citizens).

Petitions received.

***

Petition: Information Technology: Internet Content

Date: 19 October, 2006 
Database: Senate Hansard
Presenter: Senator Conroy 
Page: 1
Proof: Yes 
Source: Senate
Type: Petition 
Context: Petitions

The internet is a great educational tool. However children can too easily access pictures of violent cruelty and extreme pornography on the internet. Labor wants a “clean feed” technology that can block access to these kinds of sites.

To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled:

This petition of certain citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the Senate, the danger of children accessing internet pornography and other internet pages.

Your petitioners therefore ask the Senate to make laws that:

All internet service providers be required to offer a “clean feed” internet service to all households, schools and public libraries that blocks access to websites containing child pornography, acts of extreme violence and x-rated material. 

by Senator Conroy (from 20,646 citizens)

***

Stephen Conroy 
Senator for Victoria 
Deputy Opposition Leader in the Senate 
Shadow Minister for Communications & Information Technology
Media Release
Thursday, 18 October 2006

Australians back Labor's plan to clean up the internet

In March, Kim Beazley announced that a Labor Government would require all Internet Service Providers to offer a 'clean feed ' internet service to all households, schools and public libraries that would block access to websites identified as containing child pornography, acts of extreme violence and x-rated material.

In the Senate today, I tabled a petition signed by more than 20,000 Australians endorsing Labor's policy.

This petition was circulated after the Government announced in June that it would offer households PC based filters for installation on home computers.

Labor supports this initiative but the fact is that it does not go far enough.

Two-thirds of households do not have any filtering software installed on their home computers.

Labor believes that the Government should do everything within its power to protect our kids from exposure to damaging internet content

The petition that I tabled today clearly shows that this view is widely shared in the Australian community.

As a result of the existing complaints system, the Internet regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has identified thousands of internet websites containing illegal content such as child pornography that are hosted overseas based websites.

The technology is available that would allow access to these websites to be blocked in every Australian household.

This technology is already in use in countries like Britain, Sweden and Norway.

John Howard and Helen Coonan need to explain to Australian parents why they refuse to require ISPs to block access to these disturbing sites.

Labor is committed to using all tools at its disposal to protect Australian children from exposure to harmful internet content.

***

Glenn Milne: Liberals must catch up on climate change. The Australian 23.10.06

Last week, Kim Beazley conducted a meeting with the Australian Christian Lobby. An official note of the meeting recorded: "Approximately 50 delegates attended, including delegates from Catholic bishops, Coptic churches, Assemblies of God, Salvation Army, Hillsong. Fifteen Labor shadow ministers attended. Beazley was very well received. He also has an existing relationship with Jim Wallace (managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby and former senior SAS soldier). There was a lot of common ground between Labor and the Christian lobby. Labor shadow ministers discussed the work it has done, particularly in the areas of: schools funding, our internet clean-feed petition -- 20,000 petitions gathered through churches (via Stephen Conroy's office), respect in schools, Australian values debate and industrial relations. Delegates also raised as issues they were pleased with Labor's position on treatment of refugees and climate change."

***

So let us get this right. Stephen Conroy claims that:

"The petition that I tabled today clearly shows that this view is widely shared in the Australian community."

Yet Glenn Milne's article shows that the signatures were collected through churches.

"...our internet clean-feed petition -- 20,000 petitions gathered through churches (via Stephen Conroy's office)"

Contact details for Stephen Conroy are:

senatorconroy.com/message.htm
Canberra office: 
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 
Tel: (02) 6277 3295 
Fax: (02) 6277 3317

Melbourne office: 
4 Treasury Place Melbourne VIC 3002 
Tel: (03) 9650 1188 
Fax: (03) 9650 3251

stephen@senatorconroy.com

***

Kim Beazley
Address To The Australian Christian Lobby
Canberra - 28th October 2005

Then consider violence on television. I am deeply concerned about this.

Research suggests that by the time an average child finishes primary school, he or she will have seen 8,000 murders and 100,000 other acts of violence on television.

In the face of facts like that, as a parent you just wonder what can be done to protect the impressionable minds of children.

In the end governments can't legislate for everything. We need parents to take responsibility, and we need corporate citizenship and social responsibility.

In the United States, television manufacturers and broadcasters are working together to develop technology like the 'V-chip' that gives parents more control over what their kids watch on television.

Of course parents would need to take advantage of this technology. In the end there's no substitute for parental responsibility.

That's also true of the problem of internet pornography.

A survey done by the Australian Broadcasting Authority found that nine out of ten parents reported a specific incident where their child had accessed something inappropriate on the Internet. Two in five children said they had accidentally found a website their parents would prefer them not to see, with one in five saying this had occurred more than once. That same survey found that almost two thirds of parents don't have Internet filters on their home computers. Companies and parents doing the right thing is the most important step.

Continue to Jan - June 2007

   http://www.refused-classification.com

refusedclassification@gmail.com