[LINK] more filter - hurdle in the Senate

[Paul Bolger]

Call me cynical, but: Silly proposition to filter internet 'nasties'
gets blocked by Senate, people who are dopey enough to think filtering
proposition is a good idea think the Government is doing a good job.
Goverment gets another possible double-dissolution trigger...



2008/10/31 Jan Whitaker <jwhit at janwhitaker.com>:
>
>
> Internet screening move hits hurdle
>
> http://www.theage.com.au/news/technology/web/internet-screening-move-hits-hurdle/2008/10/30/1224956188036.html
>
> Katharine Murphy and Matthew Ricketson
> October 30, 2008 - 9:52AM
>
> A headline-grabbing election promise to crack down on internet
> nasties looks to be in trouble as Senate opposition grows.
>
> As part of its election-winning pitch, the Rudd Government promised
> families far-reaching measures to block prohibited content at the
> internet server level. It now faces a concerted backlash against the
> proposal by the internet industry.
>
> The Greens have added their voice to Coalition concerns about the
> plan, with the Greens' communications spokesman calling the proposal "daft".
>
> If the Liberals block legislation imposing server-level filtering,
> the Government will need the support of the Greens, Family First
> senator Steve Fielding and South Australian senator Nick Xenophon.
>
> Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam told The Age yesterday
> that he was concerned the Government was trying to implement a policy
> that was technically difficult and very expensive for taxpayers.
>
> The industry says mandatory filtering by internet service providers -
> as distinct from a "net nanny" that families can put on their own
> computers - will slow internet speeds significantly.
>
> Senator Ludlam said server-level filtering imposed a kind of
> censorship that "runs counter to what the internet is all about". The
> Government would be better investing the filtering money in law
> enforcement and education.
>
> "I think it's really quite misguided," Senator Ludlam said.
>
> Senator Fielding has signalled he wants a range of material blocked,
> including hard-core pornography and fetish material. Senator Xenophon
> has indicated he wants access to offshore gaming sites restricted.
>
> The Government is still a way from producing legislation to effect
> its policy, but indications are that it will be difficult to achieve
> consensus in the Senate.
>
> An industry trial of various technologies will come before any legislation.
>
> Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has launched a strong defence
> of the policy, hitting back at claims by the internet industry that
> the Government wants a sweeping ban on controversial content.
>
> "I will accept some debate around what should and should not be on
> the internet - I am not a wowser," Senator Conroy told The Age. "I am
> not looking to blanket-ban some of the material that it is being
> claimed I want to blanket-ban, but some material online, such as
> child pornography, is illegal."
>
> In response to arguments that the proposal would affect basic civil
> liberties and the principle that households should be able to be
> their own internet policeman, he said: "We are not trying to build
> the Great Wall of China.
>
> "We are not trying to be Saudi Arabia, and to say that is to simply
> misrepresent the Government's position."
>
> [then someone had better tell the Senator that they are losing the
> plot and had better start thinking harder about what they *think*
> their position is.]
>
>
>
> Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
> jwhit at janwhitaker.com
> business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
> personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
> blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
>
> Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or
> sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
> ~Madeline L'Engle, writer
>
> Writing Lesson #54:
> Learn to love revision. Think of it as polishing the silver for
> guests. - JW, May, 2007
> _ __________________ _
>
>
> --
>
> Checked by AVG.
> Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.8.5/1757 - Release Date: 30/10/2008 2:35 PM
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Link mailing list
> Link at mailman.anu.edu.au
> http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
>