Labor supports easier access to child pornography
The Labor Party yesterday stated its opposition to a Government amendment to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act aimed at closing a legal loophole that could be used to undermine the regulation of prohibited online content.
The Online Content Scheme empowers the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) to investigate complaints from the public about online content - to date, much of this material has included include depictions of child pornography, paedophilia or child abuse. Such material would warrant a Refused Classification or an X classification by the Classification Board.
Under this Scheme, if the ABA finds that material hosted in or uploaded from Australia is prohibited, it can order the relevant content host to remove the material. In the event that prohibited material is hosted overseas, the ABA notifies the suppliers of certain filters so they can ensure that their filter blocks these sites, and where appropriate alert relevant international authorities.
An amendment debated in Parliament yesterday would exempt the ABA from disclosing documents under FOI if the document contains information about prohibited content.
Labor's opposition to this amendment means that they are not opposed to making the most sickening kind of online content - child pornography - readily available to anyone who is prepared to pay a small fee for an FOI application to obtain access to the offending website addresses. If this offensive and degrading material were disclosed through FOI, there would be no way to prevent the dissemination of this content, fundamentally undermining the integrity of the on-line content regime.
If Labor has its way, then the ABA could become a one-stop-shop for deviants seeking the most despicable and morally contemptible material, which is certainly not what the FOI Act is in place for.
Labor has now gone a step beyond negative obstructionism, and has shown that it is not interested in protecting Australian families from the worst excesses of cyberporn.
It is hard to believe that Simon Crean and his Shadow Cabinet were made fully aware of the implications of Lindsay Tanner's mindless obstructionism. Mr Tanner's only justification seems to be that he is not prepared to support any strengthening of the Government's online content regulation regime, whilst refusing to confront the highly socially damaging outcomes that would flow from Labor's opposition to this amendment. On the basis of this performance, Mr Tanner is prepared to jeopardise the health of Australian families for the sake of scoring a cheap political point.
Media contact: Simon Troeth 02 6277 7480 or 0439 425 373
Website: www.richardalston.dcita.gov.au
33/03
28 March 2003
