Just before the election the government’s proposed internet filter was postponed until next year, in what was widely regarded as a quick and easy way for the government to kill off a controversial election topic. But it didn’t die. Now John Hilvert at ITNews is reporting that a strategy brief from the DBCDE is stating that the legislation couldn’t be introduced to parliament until the middle of 2013.
The delay is a direct result of the expected delay of the classifications review the government has tasked to the Standing Committee of Attorney Generals.
Three years is a long time in politics, so who knows exactly what will happen in the next few years. But until someone holds this policy down and uses a chainsaw to decapitate the ridiculous filtering concept from the future of Australian internet, consider it still on the cards.
[ITNews via Lifehacker]
Shane
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 12:05 PMByte my shiny metal ass!!
For the love of sanity, get a grip and stop trying to control everything. The US tried this with alcohol and what an astounding success that was!
Peter Simpson
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 1:53 PMI’m not voting Labour until they axe Conroy and the Filter along with him.
Gibbo Gibbleton
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 2:47 PMI’m with you man, the guy’s a bloody menace.
simon c
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 3:59 PMI think Benjamin Franklin can help Australia – 200 years after his death.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin – “He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.”
Australia doesn’t deserve books, movies, music or TV – all of it goes through the Australian *Classification* Board.
All this “oh noes, internet filter” stuff gets up my nose – no one complains about other mediums being censored.
The ACB/Government – treating every Australian like a child inside of a Policed, Nanny state.
James Mac
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 4:01 PMWhy do we keep calling it Conroy’s filter?
If there wasn’t some part of the party leadership that wanted it, it would be scrapped.
Wan’t to make it unpopular?
Associate it with every leader and marginal seat holder.
Also, spin the name… PR’s been doing it for years.
Try: The Conroy / Gillard Net Suppression Program.
Heath
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:21 AMIt’s Conroy’s portfolio, he has the power to suggest it be scrapped. I’m assuming that he actually loves the idea of controlling the interwebtubes, so that’s why he defends it like a child. Gillard didn’t come up with the policy, she’s just the PM that doesn’t want to get involved with the bad PR, leaving us with Conroy the half-wit.
Vit Peyr
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 6:23 PMLuckily the world will end before we even need to worry about this.