mightychurch.com

So the ACL have launched makeastand.org.au with the dual purpose of lobbying for the proposed internet filter and against the proposed Charter of Rights.

I don’t really want to discuss the ACL’s position on the internet filter, I’m completely against it and I think Luke has done a great job pointing out the issues in other posts.

What I want to know is how can the ACL in one breath oppose freedom of speech & expression, including anti-abortion sites as mentioned earlier, and then in the next breath be opposing the Charter of rights because it will likely restrict free speech.

I’m not saying they’re wrong about the charter, in fact I’m highly suspicious of the plans that have been put forward.  I just don’t understand the seeming contradiction.

haaaa I saw that too, as Syd Ang emailed out this article by diocesan spinmeister Russell Powell, which said (my bold):

3.  Speaking of slippery slopes, I continue to be amazed by the stories out of Britain showing freedom for Christians being eroded. At issue at the moment is the right to criticise homosexual practice. Religious Intelligence has more detail on a law with frightening implications for freedom of speech which as one Anglican bishop put it, could “restrict legitimate discussion and expression of opinion about sexual ethics and behaviour” .  This week in Australia, the Australian Christian Lobby opened a website, makeastand.org.au to allow Christians a voice against moves being considered here which may impinge on free speech.

Give Christians ‘a voice against moves being considered here which may impinge on free speech’ by supporting mandatory, secret Government internet filtering? Mind boggling. Slippery slopes indeed!

Heh, Jim Wallace’s head really has exploded… figuratively at least ;)

Christians upset at Conroy’s net policy ‘backtrack’

The Australian Christian Lobby has accused the Federal Government of breaking its election promise to censor the internet after the policy was softened in the face of relentless criticism.

The lobby’s managing director, Jim Wallace, wants the Government to introduce legislation forcing internet providers to block adult and pornography material on a mandatory basis, in addition to illegal content. Australians would then have to opt in to receive legal adult material.

Conroy seems to be saying some strange things in Senate estimates committee, from the Oz (my bold):

Responding to questions from shadow communications minister Nick Minchin on how the government may go about imposing the internet filtering scheme, Senator Conroy said that legislation may not be required and ISPs may adopt an industry consensus to block restricted content on a voluntary basis.

“Mandatory ISP filtering would conceivably involve legislation … voluntary is available currently to ISPs,” Senator Conroy said.

“One option is potentially legislation. One other option is that it could be (on a) voluntary basis that they (ISPs) could voluntarily agree to introduce it.”

In response Senator Minchin said he had never heard of a voluntary mandatory system.

Senator Conroy responded with “well they could agree to all introduce it”.

It’s also a bit of a shame that the trial of the blacklist (as opposed to dynamic filtering) is being framed around speed rather than real world efficacy. On speed for the blacklist they might say “It’s fine!”, whereas for efficacy it would be blocking perhaps a fraction of a percent of ‘unwanted’ material Conroy has been bleating about, not to mention free speech issues, secret blacklisting, ridiculous complaints-based mechanism, attempting to block a specific image on a page, etc etc etc.

I merged Glenn’s thread with this one to keep it all in the one place, but Jeremy at Sydneyanglicans.net has run a couple of pieces recently:
- First there was Porn filter debate gets crazy by Jeremy, criticising the ACL
- Then: Halcrow’s ACL net attack ‘disappointing’ by the ACL’s Lyle Shelton, who didn’t exactly cover himself in glory on SBS’s Insight episode on the topic, and was pwned by Jenny Brockie ;)

Comments there are open!

Oh dear, just when it looked like the debate had died down and common sense had a fighting chance, up pops Jim Wallace and the ACL.

This email is currently doing the rounds (their bold):

=====

In Brief

* The Rudd Government’s plan to filter porn from the internet is under threat
* Urgent action is needed now to show politicians we support this plan
* Please forward this e-mail to your church e-mail list

Dear Church Leader

The lobby group GetUp, which has a reputation for being loose with the truth, has taken up the case for the porn trade and extreme libertarians in trying to quash the Rudd Government’s plans to provide a safer online environment for kids.

GetUp claims to have 100,000 signatures on a petition opposed to filtering pornography from the internet. They are planning to take out a “massive ad” in tomorrow’s The Australian newspaper to pressure politicians to drop the plan.

We need a massive show of support to the Rudd Government urgently so that the chance to filter porn from the net is not lost.

Only this week we saw another tragic case of how the sexualisation of society is hurting children in alarming and new ways. Melbourne-based child psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said the tragic sexual abuse of year one girls by classmates as young as five was as a result of this trend.

“Usually they’re just imitating something they might have seen, perhaps on the internet, on TV or tragically been a victim of some form of sexual assault,” he told ABC radio.

It’s not just Christians who are concerned about children being exposed to porn on-line.

Please urge your people to act immediately.

Our makeastand.org.au site makes it easy. All people have to do is click on the Keep IT Clean! campaign, key in their postcode and fire off a quick e-mail to their local Federal MP.

GetUp and the porn trade – through the newly formed Australian Sex Party – are determined to stop Internet Service Provider level filtering.

We must not lose the opportunity the Rudd Government has given us to provide a safer on-line environment.

God bless

Jim Wallace AM
Managing Director

============

Yes, they really did bold the “perhaps on the internet” part of the sentance, and not “on TV or tragically been a victim of some form of sexual assault.”

Incredible.

Haha, I actually signed the Getup petition and got some of my Workers Group mates to do the same!

lol, good move, I should have done that!