Senate Committee Report released

[Greg Taylor]

The Senate "Morals Committee" has just released its report on Net
regulation, and it's nearly all bad.

The committee, actually called the Senate Select Committee on Community
Standards Relevant to the Supply of Services Utilising Electronic
Technologies, split three ways :

* Majority report signed by Senator Tierney - 15 recommendations.
* Minority report by Labor Senators Reynolds and Denman - agreed
  with recommendations 2,3,5,6,7,10,11,12,13,14 and 15.
* Minority report by Senator Stott-Despoja - statements of principles.

The majority report continues the censorious approach. In brief, the
recommendations are :

1. C'wealth to legislate against transmission (et al) of RC and adult
   material, as will all States and Territories.
2. C'wealth to establish a complaints handling body under ABA or similar.
3. C'wealth to legislate to require ISP codes of practice.
4. ISPs to be fined up to $100,000 for breach of Codes of Practice.
5. ISPs who block material that "could" cause offense to be protected
   from prosecution.
6. Adult material only avaialble to over-18s with PIN numbers and
   age verification.
7. ABA to investigate age-verification procedures.
8. All state and territory govts to have uniform laws against transmission
   of RC and adult material and common definition of "objectionable
   material".
9. State and Territory police do spot-check audits of online materials.
10. Education scheme to promote new legislation and advise on new rules.
11. Codes of Practice must include info on filters.
12. Education campaign on pros and cons of blocking software.
13. New labelling taskforce to rate Australian online content. !!
14. ABA have hotline for illegal material to be reported.
15. Aust Govt. to continue to develop international protocols in world fora.

Copies should be available from the Committee Office, phone 06 2773646.

Let's hope the news from the USA about the CDA which should be out in a few
days is better.


Greg Taylor
EFA Board member