Wow, and I thought America was lame....

What most people don't understand is that this censorship is NOT ACTIVE unless you activate it. This list has been around for years and you must ask your ISP to activate the filter on your account before it will do anything. This new announcement is to just add some more sites to that filtering list, that's all.

damn, I'm in that country!

In the immortal words of Sponge Bob: "Well, good luck with that"

According to the legislation, any site that either promotes or encourages crime, or may have the effect of doing so, may be eligible for addition to the list. -that can be almost any web-site you surf-

I live in the land of OZ (as whimsical as it may seem), my fellow Aussies who have posted responses here may recall the Govt did a similar thing (last election cycle) some years ago in attempting to make ISP's responsible for download content, and putting the onus on said providers' of fraudband to block content at pipe level. Needless say it was hugely successful (pardon me whilst I chortle, what are they going to ban Rapidshare)!
Somewhat sadly this Govt has no idea of the power of the web, indeed their philosophy is one of Diktat, you either believe or you are UnAustralian.

As stated currently in Australia the items banned are: " pornography and material deemed offensive".

And the craziest thing... the list of sites banned is also 'secret'... the general public are not able to review the list.

Even worse, we have no idea what this government deems as 'offensive'.

Under the current legislation ISPs in Australia have to block the blacklisted websites.

It's been mentioned that many claim organisations such as GreenPeace are a form of 'terrorism'... so do these also get black listed in this new secret list of "crime or terrorism-related content."?!?

This is what happens when one political party gets too much control.

I expect a change of government this election year, but expect the policies to remain.

It certainly sounds like Australia is following the path of the "new America." Much as we used to complain about the secrecy of our former Cold War enemies, our government has learned that citizens cannot challenge "secret" government actions. We are becoming that which we once opposed.

Another part of the annoying "nanny society" that prevails in the Antipodes. What do you really expect from a country whose head of state is an unelected woman who lives in England? Now that's what I call offensive.

They could quite easily walk away, but they don't care enough to do it.

Last time the Queen turned up in Australia there were flocks of people who turned up to see her walk down the road.

It's not like she's doing anything to the country; they have their own government.

Same with New Zealand.

The first step they could perform is to remove the British flag from their flags.
They don't want to.

(If you're talking about that type of Antipodes, anyway)

There is a Federal Election due to be held in the next couple of months in Australia and the conservative government is in trouble so expect more stuff like this. This government has stayed in power by the old adage of divide & rule and it has worked well for them for several elections, but this time they are in big trouble and at this stage looks like the party is over. Playing the terrorism card has been a favourite for them on several occasions, as it has for all governments aligned with America over Iraq. Anybody who has dared argue against any of their paranoid ravings has quickly been labeled as someone not interested in Australia's security or worse, so it comes as no surprise to see them go for the internet and porn now as a smoke screen for their incompetence and well placed fear of getting kicked out this time. Any politician who argues against this is likely to be attacked for not wanting to protect Oz values and children, if you were running for a seat in government I think being labeled as a friend of child pornographers etc would be the last thing you need. It has taken some years but I think the man in the street is finally realizing that the only thing destroying the values of this country is the government they have in office.
.......... lets just hope enough of them have come to that realization.

And I suppose you think that absolute idiot K Rudd and his bunch of Al Gore acolyte global warmist, Kyoto loving, socialist loons are going to save you?
Good luck pal.

Fixed terms for politicians, that's what you really need.

I cant see how anything you said has anything to do with censoring the internet. But wait let me see if I can make the connection ... internet cenorship -> Kyoto, nope sorry, but what it does show is how the raving right wing mind works.
No wonder we have right wing idiots like Howard and Bush as leaders with mighty intellects like yours allowed to vote.

Ok, Let me address that. Like all progressive socialists you probably believe that you are absolutely right, and that everyone else is wrong. Therefore you believe that your point of view is going to save the world, ie Global Warming is a fact, we're all responsible etc etc. You probably don't believe in any censorship and that we should all be allowed to do and say anything we want online, including left wing lunatics and hate mongers, 911 conspiracy theorists, pornographers of the worst kind, and funnily enough terrorists who also have access to the internet.

You also like to twist the argument so as to dodge the issue. A smart aleck reply is not a valid answer to what I said. Prove to me how the Australian Labor party is going to be an improvement on John Howard and the Liberals, and I might take you seriously.

Personal attacks are another hallmark of the intellectually vapid. To make the assertation that Howard and Bush are in power because of stupid voters doesn't make any sense, unless you believe that you are right and they are wrong which is where we came in.

Internet censorship or otherwise, your highhanded post proclaims that Bush and Howard and right wingers in general are underhanded, censorious and downright bad. My reply was that I don't think that what you're advocating is better. Do you understand that?

thanks for that, I think you made my point better than I could.

Don't make me laugh. You're a fool who can't muster a decent argument and your reply shows that. Any more smart arse replies will be ignored. Have a nice day.

ah the frothing at the mouth, rabid ravings of the right wing lunatic fringe .... you've got to laugh.
I repeat from my first post .... It has taken some years but I think the man in the street is finally realizing that the only thing destroying the values of this country is the government they have in office ..... unfortunately the fool in the street will still trumpet their drivel.

Isn't it awesome to have people decide for you and I what we should and shouldn't see? Isn't it also even more awesome to find that when you start digging, those same people are the last ones one would even want to use as example of honesty and rightiousness.

Government should *never* legislate morality on any level. If the content presents clear and present harm to individuals (such as Child pornography), laws can be created, because one's rights (those of the child) are being violated.

With regards to simple pornography, while many may not like it, it poses no threat to life, limb, or one's rights.

People need to wake up and realize that not being offended isn't a "right".

I'll second all of that! I've never quite figured out what gives someone the right to determine my moral standards. Most are unable to even define their own, as we see so often in respect to our "lawmakers."

Damn, you are one sad sad kid...

I suspect that Cooldude7273, just like me, didn't expect to see that kind of bigotry here on BetaNews. PC_FOOL, get a life.

Where does this come from? I mean, seems like everywhere every dumb*** is trying to block or restrict the internet. Like the one moron in the EU is trying to propose that certain search words should be blocked.

They really think that people dont come up away around these barriers. Damn idiots.

Mystiqq,
Kindly see my previous post re the Govt attempted this garbage several years ago. Some wag pointed out that a town in the UK would be deemed offensive, and you would be in implied strife if you ever had a yearning to go to S****horpe!

The only thing which should be censored outright on the internet is child pornography.

In the case of terrorist sites, the process to ban them should be thorough and contain safeguards to prevent an abuse of power by police or governments.

"Currently on the list are pornography and material deemed offensive"

Under absolutely no circumstances should porn between consenting adults or "offensive material" be banned.

yokozuna is right. This proposed tightening of net censorship is reminiscent of police states, theocracies and dictatorships. I'm sure Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and China will congratulate Australia for protecting their people from evil pornography and offensive material.

I thought that censorship is characteristic for countries like North Korea, Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia...
BTW, is pornography illegal in Australia? I read around a year ago about bordellos that are listed on Aussie stock market: http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s756792.htm so the story seems to be weird.

"BTW, is pornography illegal in Australia?"

Well here is the great irony. It is illegal to purchase X rated material in all states of Australia except for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The very same territory where the Federal government sits to enact these types of laws. Nothing like having two sets of standards really. Maybe they are just trying to protect their market share. *chuckle*

That's not true. It's legal to buy and sell it in New South Wales and the Northern Territory as well. In Queensland it's illegal to sell it but you can buy it (really clever law that one...) Not sure about the other states.

The problem is a in Oz most of the people tend to vote for one party or the other - they won't change their vote unless something crazy happens. So the politicians are typically trying to sway a small percentage of voters who actually determine which side has power. In this case they're going for the "moral minority". The few percent of people who will be swayed in their voting by anti-porn bills.

The example a couple years back stated by another poster was basically a deadlock where the government needed to sway one independant senator - who happened to be a religious Tasmanian senator - strongly anti-porn.

As for the terrorism/crime side... god knows what that may block. Frankly I'm against censoring anything. If the content being hosted is illegal then action should be taken against the people hosting it.

"How can a politician claim the right to hold office if they set out to undermine the
critical democratic right of freedom of speech"
EXACTLY

To apply this to the US (Bad idea, I know...)

How could any politician be allowed to remain in office after repeatedly trying to end-run the Constitution they are sworn to uphold?

(Re: Arnie, Hillary & Co. with the videogame legislation repeatedly defeated as unconstitutional.)

Retard.

@PC_Fool:
What the hell is your friggin' problem homophobe!? What 2 consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home is their own friggin' business! YOU may not like it, but that's YOUR choice! If we wanted your opinion about homo-sexuality, we would've asked for it! It's narrow minded prats like you that have caused all the hate in this world!!! Now pull you head in and be civilised or simply F#%K-OFF!
For the record, I'm a happily married Hetro-sexual (not that it's anyone's business)!

Back on-topic:
This issue is another case our our (yes, I'm Australian) being out of touch with the real world. I can see why this law has occurred, but the approach is all wrong. You can't STOP ppl visiting or finding "offensive" material on the Internet; it's just too dynamic and vast for any blacklist from being effective.
Besides the Oz Government are basing this law (and similar ones) on flawed assumption: they (the Gov.) know what is offensive and we (the citizen) do not!
Sorry, but that is just b#llsh!t! I know what I find offensive and consider myself mature enough to make my own decisions on such things. SO to the Government (any) stop trying to tell us what we can and cannot do, but provide us with the relevant information to make educated decisions. I think you'll be surprised to know that most (>99%) people aren't stupid!
OK, I'm done. Flame Away! :P