Mandatory Internet Filtering - Question to the Speaker

 

The Rudd Government is proposing mandatory internet filtering which could have serious implications for the speed and cost of online services in Australia.

 

Interestingly, all Parliament House staff including Members and Senators can currently opt-in to have their own work computers filtered.

 

Given the Rudd Government is considering imposing mandatory filters for all Australian internet users, I have sought from the Speaker of the House of Representatives details about how many Parliament House computer users, especially Government Members and staff, have chosen to opt-in for this House of Representatives voluntarily filtering scheme.

 

It will be interesting to see how many Members Senators & staff of the Rudd Government has chosen to voluntarily filter their own internet, when they are proposing a mandatory filter for all Australians. I suspect very few indeed...

 

See below my Questions to the Speaker on Hansard.

 

Mr Hawke (Mitchell) to ask the Speaker:

 

  1. How many (a) Members, (b) Senators, (c) ministerial staff, and (d) Members’ and Senators’ staff, are eligible to opt for voluntary internet content filtering.

  2. How many departmental staff, and other employees who work in Parliament House, are eligible to voluntarily have their internet content filtered.

  3. How many (a) Ministers, (b) Members, (c) Senators, (d) ministerial staff, and (e) Members’ and Senators’ staff, have opted to have internet content filtering. 

  4. How many of those in parts (3) (b) to (e) are with the Government. 

  5. Has the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy opted to have voluntary internet filtering. 

  6. How many staff members of the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy have opted to have voluntary internet filtering. 

  7. How does the default filtering system for Parliamentary and departmental networks differ from voluntary internet content filtering.