Media Release

Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc.

Media Release                                        22 April 1999

GOVERNMENT PATERNALISM TO RULE INTERNET

The Australian Government is treating Australian adults like children
in a blatant attempt to appease Senator Brian Harradine, said Internet
censorship watchdog Electronic Frontiers Australia today.  This followed
the introduction in Parliament of the Broadcasting Services Amendment
(Online Services) Bill by the Minister for Communications, Information
Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston.

"This Bill is proclaimed as protecting children from paedophiles,
drug pushers and the like, but it will do nothing of the sort," said
EFA executive director Darce Cassidy.  "It is actually aimed squarely
at preventing adult access to non-violent erotica, which is legally
available in Australia in other media", said Cassidy.  "It also creates
steep barriers for those who want to publish 'R-rated' material."

"This is an insult to ordinary Australians, who have shown time and
time again that they do not share the narrow-minded views of certain
Parliamentarians.  Adults don't need to be told what they can read by
the Government.  Nor do they want lies from the Government about the
real effect of this Bill".

"The government has demonstrated a total disregard for freedom of speech,
not granting it even a token mention either in the legislation or in the
accompanying propaganda.  This, and the crude attempt to browbeat the
Opposition and rush the Bill through Parliament, is the kind of thing
we expect from unsophisticated third world countries, not from a party
ostensibly supportive of individual liberties.  The Internet industry
and the Australian public deserve better".

[ENDS]

      --------------------------------------------------------------
      Electronic Frontiers Australia Inc  --  http://www.efa.org.au/
      representing Internet users concerned with on-line freedoms
      --------------------------------------------------------------
      Media Contacts:

      Kim Heitman                           Darce Cassidy
      Phone: 08 9458 2790                   Phone: 08 8362 5183
      kheitman@it.com.au                    Darce.Cassidy@efa.org.au
      --------------------------------------------------------------

BACKGROUND

The Bill 
	http://www.aph.gov.au/parlinfo/billsnet/9907720.doc (Word)
	http://pobox.com/~mbaker/9907720.html (HTML version)

Announcement
	http://www.dcita.gov.au/nsapi-text/?MIval=dca_dispdoc&pathid=3762

Speech
	http://www.dcita.gov.au/nsapi-text/?MIval=dca_dispdoc&pathid=%2fpolicy%2fonline2rs%2ehtml

EFA Action alert
	http://www.efa.org.au/Campaigns/alert99.html
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