It is easily abused. On the Internet, anyone can impersonate anyone else, anyone can forge mail, and anyone can distribute information in total anonymity. Extortionists and pranksters from all around the world will use this legislation to blackmail and harrass NSW Internet Service Providers and their clients.

It is a gross invasion of personal privacy and corporate confidentiality. It gives NSW police the right to open all Internet mail and penalise anyone who writes a love-letter, and to force all NSW businesses to reveal the details of every electronic business communication, financial transaction and document interchange.

It is 100% ineffective. Since Australian pornographers and paedophiles already use the unbreakable secret-codes that are available for free on the Internet, this legislation won't catch even a single one of them.

It is vastly expensive, both in terms of attempts to police an infeasible policy, and in terms of the massive destructive impact it will have on the local online-services and software industries.

It is totally unnecessary. There are many technological ways to protect children online, including technologies like "PICS" and programs like "Net Nanny" and "SurfWatch". Existing laws already provide effective measures against exploitative pornography, discrimination, harrassment and defamation, and have already obtained convictions against such abuses of on-line services. No new legislation is necessary or appropriate for Internet regulation in NSW.

A march has been organised to protest against these ridiculous and damaging laws. On Monday May 27, at 12 noon, protestors will gather in Hyde Park, and at 1pm we will march on the NSW parliament. This will be a peaceful protest and we will follow police instructions - smiles, food and music are welcome. Please encourage your friends and colleagues to come along. Many people are going to wear blue ribbons, the international symbol of free speech. But the main thing is to turn up and tell Big Brother where to get off.