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National Censorship Plan Offensive, Says Aussie Shadow Minister

Posted by timothy on from the shadow-minister-is-such-a-cool-title dept.

downundarob writes "Senator Nick Minchin, the Australian Shadow Minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy, has written (or more likely a staffer has written) this interesting article on the Australian Federal Government's continued zeal to enforce ISP-level filtering in Australia. In the article he posits that 'Underlying the Rudd Government's plan to screen the internet is an offensive message: that parents cannot be trusted to mind their children online.' Meanwhile, we wait for filtering trials to start, trials that have been delayed and which have next-to-no support among the industry. Telstra BigPond — Australia's largest ISP — has refused to take part, comparing internet filtering to 'like trying to boil the ocean.' The third largest, iiNet, is prepared to participate to highlight flaws."

6 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. has written (or more likely a staffer has written) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why did you feel you had to mention this? The authorship credit is to Minchin, not J. Random Staffer, not Kevin Rudd.

    Stick to the facts.

  2. haha boil the ocean by timmarhy · · Score: 3, Insightful
    it's about the only clever thing to come out of telstra.

    it's amusing to watch Obama atm, we had a very similar flurry of hope and dreams when Rudd was elected here. now look what we have, internet censorship, rolling back of benefits to seniors and families having babies and a string of empty promises.

    give it just a little time and that shine will rub off revealing the politician underneth.

    --
    If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
  3. Be careful, minister by papabob · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If parents cannot be trusted to mind their children online, they cannot be trusted to vote you in the next elections...

  4. Re:So... by b4upoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Censorship is always offensive. It starts with one person or one group declaring that they hold the superior view and way of life. They do not.

  5. Re:So... by David+Gerard · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The plan is entirely for the purpose of keeping fundie senators who hold the balance of power on-side. It's not meant to actually work. They have to try as hard as they can before admitting failure, meanwhile getting the fundie to help pass their legislation while they're stringing him along.

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    http://rocknerd.co.uk
  6. This is how it always works: by 7-Vodka · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is how it always works:

    When one party has control and the other is the opposition, the party with control moves forward the agenda and the opposition opposes it.

    When an election happens and they switch sides, the new party in charge who used to be in opposition of the agenda now moves it forward while the party who is now out of power opposes it.

    The agenda of world centralization of power and increasing control over the general public always moves forward.

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    Liberty.