Mark G

Comparing this filtering scheme to the non-mandatory schemes adopted by other countries is disingenuous. The only nations with mandatory filtering are Saudi Arabia and China. The government wants to copy that approach while claiming it has no plans to tinker with the filtering for political ends. But in the absence of safeguards, can it assure everyone that no future government, perhaps under pressure by zealots in the senate, will adapt the blacklist in any way?

The other disingenuous comparison is with censorship of films & books. Film & book censorship doesn't overblock or underblock, it doesn't slow down people's ability to read or watch the products. And because the products are a physical commodity censorship has at least some prospects for actually working. The broadband minister needs to grasp the fact that the internet is not just another form of media. It is different.