Australian Democrats to fight Government Internet Censorship with new site, proposals

The Australian Democrats have launched a new site: www.nointernetcensorship.com to mobilise supporters opposed to the government’s proposed internet censorship scheme and invite them to suggest and discuss what the policy should be.

“No shadowy government-run blacklist of sites will protect our children,” said Julia Melland, Australian Democrats National President. "It’s a waste of resources and it’s not going to prevent children being exposed to the vast majority of material parents would want to block."

The Australian Democrats list the secrecy and lack of transparency, as well as the excessive cost, among its list of reasons for opposing the government’s approach to cyber safety.

“The Australian Democrats are working on developing a sound, sensible cyber safety policy that provides parents real tools and resources to protect their children, and at the same time protects the freedoms of other Australians,” Melland said.

NoInternetCensorship.com allows people to sign up for updates, get a better understanding of the issue, and features forums where the public can suggest their own ideas for the party to consider. These suggestions, combined with input from industry experts, will result in a specific cyber safety policy proposal. This proposal will be voted on by the members of the party to become part of the Australian Democrats platform at the next federal election.

“The Australian Democrats have a long history of consulting widely with average Australians before coming up with solutions that work for all sides of an issue,” Melland said.

“We can come up with a policy that protects children without reducing the freedoms of other Australians – and communicate that policy without the secrecy and spin.”

For more information, visit www.nointernetcensorship.com.au

To join the Australian Democrats, go to www.democrats.org.au/join