Greens propose three-pronged alternative to mandatory filtering

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:11

IT Policy - Regulation

In a lengthy speech in the Senate, Greens communications spokesman, senator Scott Ludlam, has roundly condemned the Government's mandatory filtering plan and set out a three-pronged alternative approach to protecting children online.

He also, for the first time confirmed how the Greens would vote on the legislation if called on to do so, and urged the Coalition to declare its stance also.

"I have held back from declaring the Greens' voting intentions on this issue in the faint hope that by the time we saw legislation the minister might have accommodated at least some of the concerns that have been put to him by a huge range of stakeholders," Ludlam said.

"But, on the back of the [ABC TV] Four Corners [programme on filtering, broadcast on 10 May], it is pretty obvious that this is a false hope. So let me remove that ambiguity once and for all. If the government presents its mandatory internet censorship scheme to the Parliament in the form that the minister has been describing to us, the Australian Greens will vote against it."

He added: "I would like to know which way the Opposition intends to vote on this. We have certainly heard very encouraging comments from various people in official and unofficial capacities. But I do not know and I do not think anybody who is following this debate knows which way they will vote when push comes to shove."

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