David Heath
Sunday, 11 July 2010 18:01
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 3
It would seem that Senator Conroy is on a mission to shut down the courts. First step is the Internet filter - with that in place, it won't be possible to break the law related to banned material. Easy, no more cases before the courts. What's next?
I must admit, I was rather shocked to watch Senator Conroy's
doorstop at the Neuroscience Australia launch a couple of weeks where in response to the question "What's your personal view of the opt-out and opt-in provisions that could be added to the filter legislation are they a possibility or a good idea or…" he offered the opinion "I'm not into opting into child porn."
My first reaction was to think, gosh Senator Conroy, I'm really glad of that - I'd hate to think the opposite was true; that perhaps you
would opt into child porn.
My next reaction was one more of anger, as I expressed in my previous
comments, the implication was clearly that he was suggesting opponents of the filter did indeed support child porn.
Clearly this is divisive politics, divisive politics at it's very worst. Such comments reflect very poorly upon the Minister and ultimately upon his leader (whoever that is this week).
Be that as it may; the single-minded prosecution of this issue would have been incredibly amusing if it weren't so serious.
Sometimes, when faced with such a strident, yet ultimately pointless agenda, the cynical public will ask from what are we being diverted? What is it that is even worse than this that the steely gaze of the public must be deflected.
Unfortunately, there is no obvious candidate. Or, considering the number of times this has been raised, no obvious candidates.
The scary thought is that perhaps the Minister actually thinks this is still a good idea.
