[LINK] the filter: the backlash of the backbench

[Jan Whitaker]

MPs try to pull plug on internet filter

http://www.theage.com.au/national/mps-try-to-pull-plug-on-internet-filter-20100225-p3ts.html


ARI SHARP

February 25, 2010

BACKBENCH MPs on both sides of politics opposed 
to the government's internet-filtering proposal 
are vigorously lobbying colleagues, creating a 
potential roadblock to the plan backed by 
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

Four young Liberal MPs - Simon Birmingham, Alex 
Hawke, Michael Johnson and Jamie Briggs - are 
leading the charge against the filter within the 
Coalition, while Labor senator Kate Lundy is 
putting a case to her colleagues in favour of an optional filter.

Senator Conroy has won the backing of cabinet and 
is awaiting debate in the party room next month, 
while the Coalition is waiting for more detail. 
With the Greens indicating their opposition, the 
Coalition's position could decide the filter's fate.

The proposal involves internet service providers 
blocking access to websites that appear on a 
blacklist over content that falls foul of 
classification guidelines, including portrayals 
of sexual violence and instructions on committing crime.

Mr Hawke, a backbencher from Sydney, said his 
biggest objection was that the mandatory nature 
of the filter took control out of the hands of 
individuals. He also doubts the filtering's effectiveness.

''The government's stated aim of filtering child 
pornography is not something that many people 
could disagree with. But the point is it won't achieve that end,'' he said.

''People will still be able to access that 
illegal content 
 and it will do all sorts of 
other things such as slow down the internet, plus 
potentially there will be lists of things 
censored that we don't really want censored, not related to pornography.''

Despite the opposition, McNair Ingenuity research 
released a fortnight ago found support for the filter running at 80 per cent.

On the Labor side, Senator Lundy has put forward 
an ''optional filtering'' proposal, by which 
households could indicate to internet service 
providers if they wanted a filter.

The legislation is scheduled during the autumn 
session of Parliament, which runs until next month.



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

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

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