3 ms·

>it is hard to imagine the opposition Liberal Party ... opposing it. My understanding is that they opposed ISP level filtering while in government. Here are s

>it is hard to imagine the opposition Liberal Party ... opposing it. My understanding is that they opposed ISP level filtering while in government. Here are some comments made by Senior Opposition Frontbencher Joe Hockey a few days ago: “What we have in the government’s Internet filtering proposals is a scheme that is likely to be unworkable in practice. But more perniciously it is a scheme that will create the infrastructure for government censorship on a broader scale,” said Hockey in a wide-ranging speech on freedom to the Grattan Institute last night. Hockey said that “of course” people wanted to stop unlawful material being viewed on the internet, and that there were appropriate protections that are in place for that. “But I have personal responsibility as a parent,” he added. “If I want to stop my children from viewing other material that I feel is inappropriate then that is my responsibility to do something about it – not that of the government.” “Protecting liberty is about protecting freedoms against both known and future threats. Some may argue that we can surely trust a democratically-elected government in Australia to never try to introduce more wide-spread censorship. I am not so sure!” http://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/strategy/37527-hockey-slams-unworkable-internet-filter http://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/strategy/37527-hockey... Nick Minchin, the former Opposition Communications Minister, was also strongly against the Internet filter. Here's an opinion piece he wrote for the SMH. http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/big-brother-filter-plan-insults-parents/2009/01/21/1232471392459.html?page=fullpage http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/big-brother-filter-plan-i...

cturner 17y ago
My understanding is that they opposed ISP level filtering while in government. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Coonan#Internet_Filtering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Coonan#Internet_Filtering That government had some crazy ideas in the late 90s, but between 2000 and loss of government in 2007 they encouraged parental supervision through opt-in filtering software, and opposed ISP-level filtering. Nick Minchin, the former Opposition Communications Minister Minchin wasn't communications minister in government, but became shadow communications minister in opposition. This doesn't detract from the link you sent.
- nopassrecover 17y ago
  I see your point but Minchin has retired and the opposition that the Libs have isn't ideological - it's largely "it won't work". My concern is that their opposition is simply because "we have to oppose them". Hockey's comments are refreshing but my experience is that he plays populist/party-line politics so it has little bearing on how he would actually vote at the time. I guess the upcoming election will probably decide how this plays down anyway.

cturner 17y ago

My understanding is that they opposed ISP level filtering while in government. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Coonan#Internet_Filtering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Coonan#Internet_Filtering That government had some crazy ideas in the late 90s, but between 2000 and loss of government in 2007 they encouraged parental supervision through opt-in filtering software, and opposed ISP-level filtering. Nick Minchin, the former Opposition Communications Minister Minchin wasn't communications minister in government, but became shadow communications minister in opposition. This doesn't detract from the link you sent.

nopassrecover 17y ago
I see your point but Minchin has retired and the opposition that the Libs have isn't ideological - it's largely "it won't work". My concern is that their opposition is simply because "we have to oppose them". Hockey's comments are refreshing but my experience is that he plays populist/party-line politics so it has little bearing on how he would actually vote at the time. I guess the upcoming election will probably decide how this plays down anyway.