[Fwd: New Ministerial Media Release/family]

[ramin]

What an amazing Press Release!
The hyperlink does not work and the moral tone is so high you wonder
what they will say when the next senior government minister gets busted
over something or other.
Inherent in all of this is a flaw in understanding that apart from the
online world they are losing most of the battles (drugs, crime, sex 
crimes, etc.) and that the window dressing and rhetoric will ring hollow
with those living with these problems.
Next thing you know they will make it illegal for kids to drink or smoke
if they are under 18 (joke).

Alston launches vital new internet tool for parents 

     'Australian parents have a vital new tool to help ensure that their
children are safe and secure while browsing the internet,' the Minister
for Communications, Information
     Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, announced today. 

     'The new Family Website (www.aba.gov.au/family) forms one part of a
coordinated Government effort to ensure the protection of Australian
citizens, especially children. 

     'The Family Website is an effective "internet starter-kit for
families". It provides links to fun and educational sites, tips for
parents about how to help children get the best
     out of the internet, information about how to find things online,
explanations of the jargon to help parents who may be just starting to
explore the online world, information
     about online risks to children and what to do about them, suggested
internet house rules as starting point for parents to develop their own
rules, and ideas for parents
     about how to support their children's education via the internet.' 

     'The Federal Government will not tolerate the internet being
polluted by highly offensive or illegal material - whether it be
pornography, bomb making menus or drug
     recipes. 

     'Recent media reports of police crackdowns on internet paedophiles
have graphically illustrated the problem, and the Government will do
everything in its power to stop
     criminals using the internet to prey on kids. 

     'However, there is only so much that Governments can or should do.
We can crack down on illegal activity, and we can work with the industry
to minimise potential
     problems, but we can't replace the guardianship role of parents. 

     'That's why the new Family Website is so important, because it
provides parents and guardians with the vital information that they need
to do their job. 

     'The Government urges all responsible parents and guardians to use
this new Website.' 

     The Family Website was jointly developed by the Australian
Broadcasting Authority and the National Office for the Information
Economy. 

     Media Contact:
     Terry O'Connor, Minister's office 0419 636 879
     Donald Robertson, ABA 02 9334 7980
     Website www.richardalston.dcita.gov.au

     205/98
     27 November 1998 
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: New Ministerial Media Release
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 10:02:08 +1100 (EST)
From: owner-all@minister.dca.gov.au

The following Ministerial Media Release is available at:

http://www.dcita.gov.au/cgi-bin/graphics.pl?path=3382

Alston launches vital new internet tool for parents
'Australian parents have a vital new tool to help ensure that their 
children are safe and secure while browsing the internet,' the Minister
for 
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard
Alston,
 announced today

Terry O'Connor, Minister's office