The NSW Legislative Council's Committee on Social Issues found that Schedule 2 of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Amendment Act 2001 will not reach the policy objectives of preventing the online publishing of objectional material and protecting minors from unsuitable material.
-The committee was very attentative to our evidence about how empowering end users through our industry scheme offers community safeguards which probably best address the issue," chief executive of the Internet Industry Association (IIA) Peter Coroneos told ZDNet Australia.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) also submitted proposals to the report. -It [the Act] absolutely should be repealed and should never have been passed," spokesperson Philip Argy told ZDNet Australia. He added that since most of the members of the committee were Australian Labor Party members he expects the recommendations to be accepted.
The report found the legislation would be a greater deterrent to legitimate users than those with criminal intent, and could criminalise a wide range of academic or other material that would be legal to publish offline.
The Committee recommended that Internet content be regulated under the relevant provisions of the Crimes Act 1900 for the time being, adding that the Attorney General should review the Crimes Act to see if it provides a sufficient basis for prosecuting people who publish offensive or dangerous material online.
-This recognises there are existing laws in place which do this job and there's no need for further legislation," Coroneos said.
