MEDIA RELEASE

Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Information Technologies, Senator Jeannie Ferris, announced today that the Committee had resolved to conduct an inquiry into the Government's proposals for the establishment of a regulatory framework relating to illegal or offensive material published and transmitted through on line services such as the Internet.

The inquiry will be in accordance with term of reference (1)(c) of the Senate's resolution to re-establish the Committee in the current Parliament passed last Thursday, 25 March 1999. The Committee had previously been established on 27 August 1997, but it had been unable to complete its program of inquiries before the end of the 38th Parliament.

Senator Ferris today said:

The decision of the Senate to re-establish the Senate Select Committee on Information Technologies in this the 39th Parliament is a demonstration of the Senate's concern that there are important personal, social and economic issues raised by the continuing technological change created by industries and services utilising information technologies.

One such issue is that of the transmission of illegal or offensive material through online services such as the Internet.

On 19 March 1999 the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Richard Alston, released details of the Government's plans to introduce measures to protect Australian citizens, especially children, against illegal or highly offensive material on the Internet.

The Information Technologies Committee has resolved to invite submissions from interested organisations and individuals about the Government's announced plans. The closing date for submissions is 30 April. The Committee then proposes to conduct a series of public hearings with interested parties, so that its views can be taken into account in the drafting of the legislation to give statutory effect to the Government's proposals.

For further details:

Senator Jeannie Ferris, Committee Chair, 02 62773440
Michael McLean, Committee Secretary, 02 62773567

31 March 1999