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Save The Free Internet!

The current Labor government in Australia is working towards creating a Chinese style internet censorship system. The justification being given is that of protecting our children from internet predators and pedophiles.

WeAreChange is unilaterally opposed to the interference of government in citizens' access to shared information on the Net. We are convinced that these measures are merely a stepping stone on the path to a totalitarian society.

We abhore child abuse and we affirm the need for parents to protect their children, however we wish to emphasise that there are already very effective means of doing this with existing solutions which do not involve a top-down censorship system.

Existing sofware can be installed on your computer and you can choose to block any site you wish as explained here:

Dale Clapperton on Sunrise


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xThNk0Vd4ws

There are many problematic questions associated with the government's planned system, none of which have been properly addressed. Here are just a few:

These are just a few of the many pressing questions associated with internet filtering.

Here are a few articles to read:

Here are some Australian websites to check out:

Here are some steps you can take:

Contact Senator Conroy

Contacting the Minister will let him know that his constituents, the Australian public, are not on board with his impractical plan.
Call the Minister.

There's nothing like a personal phone call to get the message across. Call the minister's office on (03) 9650 1188 and let them know your objections.
Write to the Minister.

A personalised letter to the Minister sends a powerful message: We don't like the policy, and we care. Letters can be sent to the Ministerial office:

    Senator Stephen Conroy
    Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
    Level 4, 4 Treasury Place
    Melbourne Vic 3002

If you're not sure what to say, you might wish to use the following as a template:

Dear Minister,

As an Australian and an internet user, I have serious concerns about your mandatory Internet filtering initiative.
Given the importance your Government has attached to modernising Australia's broadband network, pursuing a policy that can only slow down and increase the costs of home internet access seems misguided at best. 

Australian households are diverse, and most do not have young children, so mandating a one-size-fits-all clean feed approach will not serve the public well. I don't think it is the Government's role to decide what's appropriate for me or my children, and neither do most Australians.

Given the amount of Internet content available, the Government will never be able to classify it all and filters will always result in an unacceptable level of over-blocking. I feel that the time and money could be spent in better ways both to protect children and improve Australia's digital infrastructure. Australian parents need better education about the risks their children face online. Trying to rid the Internet of adult content is futile, and can only distract from that mission.

Sincerely,
Internet User
City, State 

Email the Minister

Although not as effective as a letter or call, every bit helps. Email Senator Conroy at: minister (at) dbcde.gov.au.

Contact your local representative

Your local Memeber of Parliament is your representative and wants to hear about your concerns. Let your member know that you are unhappy with this policy.

Not sure who to contact? Find your local member’s contact information.

Contact your ISP

Your Internet Service Provider is probably just as worried about this policy as you are, but letting them know your concerns will help in their own efforts.

Not sure how to contact your ISP? This list may help.

Sign a Petiton

 

 

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Comments

This is a test comment too.

By hereward on 2008 11 21

I suspect if we don't act quickly, sites like this will be banned too.

By Simon on 2008 11 21

And so it begins again.. the govt quietly stripping us of our rights. Due to our own apathy we could lose many of our freedoms. We need to step up and speak out, tell our family and friends. If you don't believe we can lose so much that we take for granted just look at the USA! The Patriot Act! Australia always seems to 'follow'the USA. We are living in a time when the internet is an extremely important tool for getting 'all' the real news and alternative resources other than the mainstrem media which churn out the same stories on every channel. We don't have to sit mindlessly by, be apethetic. Lets write ring or email the minister to let him know we object. After all the government is working for us right????

By josiew47 on 2008 11 23

Please help small farmers and small buisness by supporting Barnaby Joyce and Fiona Nash - Malcom Turnbull hates them - he is colluding with Labor to push a whole heap of global corporate policies through next year. Please consider it - small farmers need young people in the city to support them as they are slowly but surely being wiped out.

By Von Curtis on 2008 12 09

The acma blacklist was leaked to wikileaks. The list contains sites such as online poker sites and others which have nothing to do with child porn,which is the main excuse the gov was giving for the filter. I knew the hacktivists would take this sort of action eventually :).

By dave on 2009 04 01

Govt would take proper steps

By Be Free Pty. Ltd on 2009 06 09

my eyes are now open,open yours australia!get yourselves ready for the next Eureka stockade!get ready to stand up for our freedom!For years we have been infected by policies by the ruling families agenda being so closely linked to the US course of belief and policy' Protect our free speech, our identity. Be proud to be independent expose the truth.

By dasha74 on 2009 12 04

Conroy's proposal is scary. Even if Conroy and his colleagues' motives are genuine (and that's a big "if") it doesn't protect us from the tyranny of future governements.

By seeds of an atlantean on 2010 05 03

Censorship is just ridiculous, getting close and closer to china

By Rsmith on 2010 05 28