Mitch H

My question is: what exact data does the Australian Govt. have on the current, non-censored/filtered internet in regards to our childrens safety and/or business losses. How many children are affected at the moment? No really, how many children are killed or scarred for life by stumbling across pornographic material on the internet? Everyone is concerned for our children and should be wary of 'internet predators' but do you truly, honestly think that our children will benefit from this? I use the current pool fencing requirements as an example. Australian Standard (AS) 1926.1 stipulates the requirements for pool fencing, where the intention is to save lives. In recent weeks there have been a handful of unfortunate deaths of children in Queensland alone. The cause of which was not the inadequacy of the current pool fencing legislation, but poor parental supervision. The children merely found another way to circumvent the measures set up to save them. I cannot stress that point enough. The internet is like a swimming pool - it can provide education and entertainment, but because of its dangers, ADULT SUPERVISION is required. The QLD state govt. are rushing through new stricter legislation for pool fencing, which are unique to the state. This is a short term fix for a problem that will continue to occur without supervision. In this case, adult supervision is required, not by our 'Big Brother' Australian Govt. Please do not patronise us by bringing legislation in to protect us. It is offensive. Please instead spend your, no, OUR money on more sensible tools such as education on supervision of the internet. So going back to my question, what exactly is wrong with the current situation to warrant such drastic measures? Do you really get that many complaints from us peasants to require protection from the dangers of the internet? Or is it something dreamed up by idle politicians trying to justify their wage. From the bottom of my heart, please consider what you are doing is working backwards to our progress. Read George Orwell's '1984' and understand that the overregulation in our Nanny State is becoming absurd.