1. What is the primary goal of the internet filtering plan?

We currently have laws about the sort of material that is acceptable across all media - television, film, publications, radio, computer games and the internet.

The National Classification Code determines content against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults.

The aim of the Government's Cyber-safety policy is to make the internet a safer place.  We have allocated $128.5 million for a comprehensive cyber-safety program that focuses on education, research, ISP filtering and law enforcement.

The filtering aspect is just one component of the plan.  We are seeking international co-operation to expand the blacklist of URL's which contain the worst of the worst content - child pornography, cruelty or real violence, and sexual violence.

This material is illegal across any medium so we do not believe it should be accessible on the internet.

2. Does the senator believe or have evidence [the plan] can be rolled out without reducing net speeds?

This material is currently being filtered by a number of ISP's in countries such as the UK, Sweden, Norway and Canada with no impact on network speeds or performance.

We are aware of these claims and that is why we seeking to conduct a real world pilot trial with the internet industry.

The pilot trial will assist to gather further information about a range of technical solutions and their impact on performance.

3. Has the plan been achieved in any other liberal democracies?

Countries such as the UK, Sweden, Norway and Canada (amongst others) have already implemented ISP level filtering of this sort of material.

4. How does the senator respond to accusations by Sunrise viewers that this is a threat to free speech/democracy?

This is not an argument about free speech. As I have already said, we have laws about the sort of material that is acceptable across all mediums and the internet is no different. Currently, some material is banned and we are simply seeking to use technology to ensure those bans are working.

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Senator Conroy's spokesperson also tells Sunrise the examples of euthanasia and anorexia sites were not mentioned by the government but by Greens Senator Ludlum at a Senate Estimates meeting last Monday.

It is believed these categories would not not fit into current definitions of banned content.

More info
netalert.gov.au - download filter software
Senator Stephen Conroy - official page
nocleanfeed.com - activism website
IT expert gives the industry perspective here