Beazley to Ban Porn

Labor to force porn block

March 21, 2006 INTERNET service providers (ISPs) will be forced to block violent and pornographic material before it reaches home computers if Labor wins the next federal election.

Under the policy, announced by Opposition Leader Kim Beazley today, international websites would be banned by the Australian Communications and Media Authority if they contained graphic sexual or violent material, rated R or higher.

The bans would be maintained by ISPs.

The policy aims to protect the two-thirds of Australian households where no internet filters are in place because of a lack of technical knowledge or cost.

Mr Beazley said all households would be included in the policy unless there was a specific request for access to such material.

It was "too hard" for many parents to install internet blockers on their computers to prevent offensive material being downloaded, he said.

"The point at which you can do that (effectively ban such material) is with the ISP," Mr Beazley told Southern Cross Radio.

"The ISP provider can cut it off.

"They (websites) can be controlled by Australian law and they (ISPs) can control them at the point at which they enter the country."

Similar systems operated in Sweden and Britain, he said.

In the past, Mr Beazley has called on the Federal Government to provide free internet blockers to all Australian households.