Compiled by Andrew Middleton

With no legislation yet tabled, the Government’s position is best put forth by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy – Stephen Conroy’s – initial media release on the proposition:

http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/115

As well as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s comments on Channel Seven’s “Sunrise” Program, 26th of February, 2010:

“We have a very hard line approach on this. Is any system perfect in dealing with it? No. But is our challenge to reduce it to the absolute extent – ah – possible? Yes. And remember, what we’re doing here is the same treatment that you extend to any piece of, ahh, material out there in movies, in videos.”

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbqJ0P5M71g (from 1:28 to 2:16)

WAYS YOU CAN STOP THE FILTER
A couple of suggestions are to write to Politicians from all sides of the House of Representatives & Senate about your concerns and opposition to the filter concisely.

21st of June 2010, House of Representatives Hansard transcript: Internet Filtering petition

Congratulations to Melissa Short and everyone involved in the petition addressed to the House of Representatives against internet filtering. Here’s the tabling of it in yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives (at around 8:30pm AEST):

http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr210610.pdf

On page 94 is the tabling and reading of the petition against mandatory internet filtering. 2166 valid signatures make it the 4th largest in the sitting, but in total over 7000 signatures were submitted. This is as direct as our democracy gets, unfortunately. Please cite this petition in any future campaigning.

Petition homepage:

http://www.thecrowhouse.com/savethenet.html

Petition Signature Team – WA:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=267057358856

ELECTRONIC PETITIONS ARE NOT SUBMISSIBLE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The electronic petition addressed to the Senate will be tabled by Senator Ludlam:

http://efa.org.au/epetition

_________________________________________________________________________

KEY FACTS AND WEBSITES ABOUT PROPOSED MANDATORY INTERNET FILTERING IN AUSTRALIA

Mainstream media coverage of the protest held in Perth against Internet filtering on the 13th of December, 2008:

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/internet-censorship-wont-benefit-cyber-safety-protestors-say-20081214-6y3k.html

Federal Government measure we’re trying to prevent (no legislation proposed as yet):

http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/115

Department of Broadband, Communications, & the Digital Economy: “ISP Filtering – Frequently Asked Questions,” 17th of December, 2009:

http://www.dbcde.gov.au/funding_and_programs/cybersafety_plan/internet_service_provider_isp_filtering/isp_filtering_live_pilot/isp_filtering_-_frequently_asked_questions

A comprehensive review of the history of Labor’s varying ISP filtering policies/’plans’ since 2006:

http://libertus.net/censor/ispfiltering-au-govplan.html#s_21

“Australian Internet Filtering Wiki Page”:

http://www.overclockers.com.au/wiki/Australian_Internet_Filtering

Websites, organisations, and political parties/members who oppose mandatory Internet filtering:

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam – who will be speaking at the Perth event – on the ABC’s PM Program, 16th of December 2009:

http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/greencast/scott-talks-abc-pm-about-net-filtering

Liberal Democratic Party, “OPPOSE CENSORSHIP”:

http://www.ldp.org.au/files/Censorship%20brochure.pdf

Australian Pirate Party Media Release, “Conroy Misleads Public with Filter Report,” 15th of December 2009:

http://pirateparty.org.au/Conroy-Misleads-Public-with-Filter-Report

The Australian Democrats “No Internet Censorship” page:

http://www.nointernetcensorship.com/

Liberal Party Senator Cory Bernadi, “Blanket Ban on Internet a Folly”:

http://www.senatorbernardi.com/2009/02/blanket-ban-on-internet-a-folly.html

Current Liberal Party Senate Leader Nick Minchin, 2nd of September 2009:

http://www.liberal.org.au/news.php?Id=3692

Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communications, & the Digital Economy Tony Smith, 10th of February, 2010:

http://www.tonysmithmp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=197

LABOR Party Senator Kate Lundy opposes a mandatory filter, stating:
“I do not believe a mandatory filter will achieve the policy goals stated and I agree that mandatory filtering creates an issue around free expression and business confidence.”
Source: http://www.katelundy.com.au/2010/02/02/q-and-a-from-my-thoughts-on-the-internet-filter/

From the Government Department of Broadband, Communications, & the Digital Economy (Conroy’s Department!), 17th of December, 2009:
“A technically competent user could circumvent filtering.”
Source: http://www.dbcde.gov.au/funding_and_programs/cybersafety_plan/internet_service_provider_isp_filtering/isp_filtering_live_pilot/isp_filtering_-_frequently_asked_questions#9.0

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Channel 7’s Sunrise Program, February 26th, 2010:
“It’s called, ah – ‘refused classification material.’ What’s it involve? Acts of child abuse, acts of sexual abuse against children, including material which also – ah – provides ‘how to’ kits in terms of conducting terrorist attacks. We have a very hard line approach on this. Is any system perfect in dealing with it? No. But is our challenge to reduce it to the absolute extent – ah – possible? Yes. And remember what we’re doing here is the same treatment that you extend to any piece of ahh – material out there in movies, in videos, and now we’re seeking to do the same when it comes to this; ‘awful material.’ Ah, which I think mums & dads watching this program this morning would be really worried about.”
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbqJ0P5M71g (from 1:28 to 2:16)

Save the Children and National Children’s & Youth Law Centre (NCYLC) both oppose the proposed mandatory internet filter plan:

http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/330087/child_groups_slam_conroy_isp_filtering_plans/

Listen to co-Organisers of the Perth March 6th Rally Andrew Middleton & Ben Peterson on RTRfm’s “Indymedia,” 1st of March 2010:

http://www.rtrfm.com.au/restream/9955 (our pre-recorded interview comes in at about the 25 minute mark)

Listen to Melissa Short, Principal Petitioner of the Official anti-censorship Paper Petition addressed to the House of Representatives (http://www.thecrowhouse.com/savethenet.html), 5th May, 2010:

http://www.corbettreport.com/mp3/2010-05-05%20Melissa%20Short.mp3

Wikileaks released the ACMA Blacklist of sites for the internet filter on the 18th of March, 2009. Unfortunately, they are struggling for funding and the link is down. If you can financially support them please do: http://wikileaks.org/

Australian Internet Censorship-related Websites:
http://www.stopthefilter.org/, http://www.efa.org.au/, http://openinternet.com.au/, http://www.netalarmed.com/, http://nocleanfeed.com/, http://chairmankrudd.com/, http://www.internetblackout.com.au/, http://www.stopinternetcensorship.org/, http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/, http://www.thegiftofcensorship.com/, http://www.block-the-filter.org/, http://www.censordyne.com.au/

Perth March 6th Rally Promo posters:

http://stopthefilter.org/download/Internet%20Censorship%20Promo%20Flyer%20-%20Poster1.pdf

http://stopthefilter.org/download/Internet%20Censorship%20Promo%20Flyer%20-%20Poster2.pdf

http://stopthefilter.org/download/Internet%20Censorship%20Promo%20Flyer%20-%20Poster3.pdf

Most of the Posters available on the net regarding this issue:

http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/big-list-of-no-aussie-net-censorship-posters/

2010 CAMPAIGN UPDATES
January 14: http://wearechangewa.com/2010/01/14/tear-down-the-firewall/
May 6: http://stopthefilter.org/2010/05/06/australian-anti-internet-censorship-campaign-update/
May 26: http://stopthefilter.org/2010/05/26/senator-ludlam-the-time-for-australians-to-stand-up-is-right-now-and-we-are-standing-up/

By Melissa Short, Principal Petitioner (e-mail: melsy29@hotmail.com)
Edited by Andrew Middleton, Petition Coordinator

The petition addressed to the House of Representatives against mandatory internet censorship in Australia, has been presented on Monday, the 21st of June. If you would like to watch the petition being presented to the House of Representatives in Parliament, it will be broadcast live on Australian Parliamentary House webcast, and if you missed watching it live, it will be archived and still available for viewing for at least one month. The Hansard transcript of the June 21st, 2010 sitting of the House of Representatives includes the tabling and reading of this petition. Scroll down to page 94 of the PDF to view it, or download it as a single page.

Over 7,000 signatures were garnered in the six months that this petition ran for, and due to an extremely high amount of people not recording their first and last names, when signing this petition but rather just a first initial with their last name, this has resulted in only 2166 being accepted as the count of valid signatures attached to our petition. This was the 4th highest amount of signatures for a petition tabled in the sitting.

It is a terrible let down that not all submitted signatures can be counted, but according to the Standing Committee on Petitions, 2166 is still a very high amount to be collected for a petition and is a considerable amount of signatures collected by people of the public, people with no funding or affiliation with the media or any organizations to help push a campaign for this petition. So I won’t dwell on the loss of signatures for too long and just look very forward to Monday, too watching this document opposing internet censorship becoming an official government record with over 2,000 valid signatures!

Although any signatures garnered going forward cannot be added to this Monday’s presentation, I have recently been advised by the Petitions Committee that if we choose to we can keep collecting signatures, but it will not be added to the signature count for this presentation, but presented in the next sitting session (August) with mention of the original submission of 2166 signatures. Submitting further signatures will continue to show the government that we are strongly opposed. So the good news is, that if you are one of those people who signed the petition but didn’t record your full name, you now haven’t missed out on having your signature counted, you can still print out the petition and sign it and either send it to me or directly to the Petitions committee and this will count for the August session.

Hansard transcript of the June 21st sitting of the House of Representatives (page 94)

Hansard transcript of the House of Representatives tabling of the petition against mandatory internet filtering (1 page only)

House of Representatives Petition homepage (download links for petition available here)

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions

By Andrew Middleton

We start the update on the Australian anti-internet censorship campaign – mobilised due to the Labor Government’s proposed mandatory ISP filtering plan (see WeAreChange WA’s previous article on the matter) – with the above poster designed by Josh Meney, an Australian activist who put his artwork onto the web in the past fortnight free to publish. Thanks to Josh for pouring his creative energies into this striking and provocative poster. It joins a now burgeoning amount of fantastic artistic pieces that have been created about this issue.

Certainly those of us who wish to see the content on the Internet remain free from Government control for the Australian public – both now and in years to come – will need to continue to pour energy into this campaign as despite some speculation, the proposed mandatory ISP filter is still planned to go ahead by the current Labor Government and still has strong support from a small but influential assortment of political parties, ministers, and interest groups. An article in The Australian on the 29th of April titled, “Rudd retreats on web filter legislation,” states:

“KEVIN Rudd has put another election promise on the backburner with his controversial internet filtering legislation set to be shelved until after the next election. A spokeswoman for Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said yesterday the legislation would not be introduced next month’s or the June sittings of parliament. With parliament not sitting again until the last week of August, the laws are unlikely to be passed before the election.”

However, Prime Minister Rudd responded to the article by stating he had “no advice to that effect.” He later said when questioned if the legislation would be introduced this year: “Look, can I ask that you put that to the relevant minister. I don’t have any other advice to what I put to you earlier.” (source: ZDNet.com.au) ZDNet Australia had already that morning questioned the office of the relevant minister, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, about the reported delay.

“The government is committed to the cyber-safety policy, which includes [internet service provider (ISP)] level filtering of refused classification content,” Conroy’s office replied in a statement.

“A public consultation on improved transparency measures has been held and the department is now working with other government agencies to consider the submissions and examine whether the ideas can be used to enhance the proposed accountability and transparency measures. The department is also continuing to consult ISPs on the implementation of ISP-level filtering.

“Once these processes are complete the legislation will be introduced into Parliament.”

These type of listless responses should be of little surprise to anyone who has a remote interest in the Australian political environment in the modern era. For one, it’s typical handballing from Government minister to Government minister, as if these people don’t speak to each other about issues of social & moral importance such as this one. The Australian makes a simple observation regarding Parliamentary sittings and neither the Prime Minister nor the Communications Minister can give any sort of indication to the public as to the issue raised by The Australian. That being, a date for when legislation will be tabled for a policy this Rudd Labor Party successfully campaigned with at the last Federal Election held on the 24th of November, 2007 – nearly 30 months ago.

Secondly, the Labor Party Government currently has insulation batts, a health plan, mining industry tax plan, and ironically enough, a National Broadband Plan to win over the public on and push through Parliament prior to a Federal Election sometime this year. They will quite simply run out of time to table legislation for this proposal before then. Lastly, the best way to appear to be acting on an issue without actually doing anything, is by setting up Committees and public consultations regarding the issue. And once they’re complete, by setting up more. It buys valuable (stalling) time, as well as giving the impression to the public that the Government cares about what the people have to say on the particular matter, and is doing all it can to achieve the best outcome possible.

Whether the above points are agreed upon or not, the likely delay of the tabling of internet censorship legislation until after the election does not mean that us Australians concerned about this proposal should sit on our hands until after we’ve been to the polls, which mainstream media sources have said is likely – but not necessarily – to be called by Labor sometime in September or October of this year. Quite the opposite; this is actually a dangerous period for the internet censorship issue, as it threatens to lay doment and forgotten about in the face of media-saturated issues such as health, global warming/climate change/the emissions trading scheme, the economy, and recently, a proposed 40% tax on mining industry profits. Furthermore, while this writer doubts both the tabling of legislation prior to any Federal Election and a 2011 election, the incumbent Labor Government does legally/constitutionally have until the 16th of April, 2011 to hold the next election.

Thankfully, the Australian grassroots anti-internet censorship campaign rolls on around the nation in the months of May & June.

Corbett Show interview begins leadup to May anti-web censorship activism

Just yesterday (the 5th of May), Melissa Short (pictured below), the Principal Petitioner of the official anti-censorship paper petition addressed to the House of Representatives – which expresses to Parliament that the majority of Australians’ are in condemnation of the proposed legislation and asks the House to “repeal all legislative action concerning implementation of compulsory content filtering of the internet in Australia” – was interviewed by James Corbett (pictured below) of the Corbett Report. In the interview, James & Melissa discuss the nature of the internet censorship proposed in Australia, how far along the Government is in implementing the content filter, and why Melissa decided to pursue this avenue of dissent against the proposal. Download an MP3 file (11.6megabyes) of the interview and a link to the petition from this page: http://www.corbettreport.com/index.php?i=Documentation&ii=316

(This is the 2nd time James Corbett has dedicated a show or interview to the Australian Government’s mandatory ISP filtering plan, with the entirety of Episode #82 from April 2009 dedicated to the issue. It’s available free to download with documentation here.)

The petition itself was pre-approved for submission to the House of Representatives on January 13th of this year, and Melissa reports a steady stream of petition signatures having come her way since then, with an unknown amount being possibly sent directly to Parliament or yet to be mailed. A central part of the interview is the announcement of the final deadline date for sending in signatures to Melissa, which is the 29th of May, 2010. Tabling to the House is likely to be on June 21st, 2010, however, the Petitions Committee requires petition forms to be received in early June for the 21st of June tabling, so please have signed petition forms (one signature will do!) in the mail, sent to the address provided on this petition by May 29th at the very latest.

Also mentioned by Melissa in the interview is the upcoming protest in Melbourne against the proposed internet censorship plan, occuring Saturday, May 22nd, 2010. The event will be held in Federation Square of Melbourne’s CBD and starts at 11:30am. A copy of the aforementioned petition will be available to sign at the event. On the back of this initiative shown, activists in Brisbane and Perth have joined in by organising a campaign on the same day to acquire signatures for the petition addressed to the House of Representatives. Details for Brisbane’s Day of Action can be found on Facebook and Meetup.com. Perth’s Day of Action will occur at midday on May 22nd, with the meeting place being out the front of the Fremantle Town Hall. Contact myself for further details. Please do not bring partisan material to hand out to the public, this is an action solely aimed at preventing internet censorship. Please do bring printed out sheets of the petition, a clipboard, a pen, cameras, respect for the Police, and a confident, polite, and informative approach to members of the public. Hope to see you on the 22nd of May!

Fremantle Town Hall, the meeting place on May 22nd at midday, for petition signature campaigning.

Recap of key points in the article:

1. Josh Meney’s provocative anti-Australian internet censorship poster.
2. Australian Labor Government unlikely to table legislation before the next Federal Election, but legally have until mid-April to hold the next election. The campaign against internet censorship in Australia rolls on.
   
3. Melissa Short is interviewed by James Corbett of the Corbett Report on the 5th of May, regarding the soon-to-be-tabled Official paper petition addressed to the House of Representatives.
4. Anti-Internet Censorship actions planned for May 22nd, 2010 in Melbourne, Brisbane (Facebook/Meetup), and Perth (read last paragraph of the article).

The personal views, beliefs and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and opinions of “Stop the Filter” as a whole.