PORN FILTERS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES

The Federal Government has announced a National Filter Scheme to ensure Australian families can better protect their children from internet pornography.

The National Filter Scheme was announced by Communications Minister, Helen Coonan, as part of the Coalition's Protecting Families Online package to address problems associated with internet pornography. Under the plan, every parent will have access to a free filter for their home computer, the Government will also encourage child-safe terminals in libraries and the internet safety agency will get more resources to help families to avoid pornographic content appearing on their computer screens. "This method of screening out pornography is simple, safe, effective and free and I would urge Australian families to take advantage of what is on offer." Senator Coonan said.

Those interested in accessing filter software should contact NetAlert, Australia's internet safety advisory board, on 1800 880 176.Not everyone however was happy that the announcement went far enough in addressing the problem of Internet Porn.Warwick Marsh, the convenor of the Sexual Integrity Forum said "The Fatherhood Foundation and the Integrity Alliance team applaud the Government's initiative as a step in the right direction, but the Government has not got to the core of the issue.""Last August at the Sexual Integrity Forum people came from all over Australia to Parliament House to talk about the problem of pornography. All the groups were unanimous in their call for mandatory internet filtering at the ISP level."Children and teenagers can easily get around Net Nannies. State and Council Libraries will not accept filtering without a clear directive from the Government. The best way to protect the women and children of Australia and turn the tide of sexual exploitation in Australia today is to introduce mandatory internet filtering at an ISP level."We congratulate Senator Guy Barnett's trial of filtering porn at the ISP level in Tasmania, and the many coalition backbenchers that have asked for the introduction of Internet filtering at the ISP level. We congratulate both the Labor Party and Family First on their clean feed policy for Internet filtering. We ask the Minister for Communications, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, to take decisive action to protect the women and children of Australia and introduce mandatory filtering of Internet porn at an ISP level immediately."

Source: Compiled by APN from various media reports

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July 2006