The Giant Firewall of Australia has been greenlit

There are many things about my country that I truly love. I feel that some parts of the Aussie culture are better than any other in the world.
 
Our internet, however,  is very much not one of them. 
 
We have always been slow and lumbering when it comes to innovation in the area with our current level often being compared with that of some third world counties. However, I have never thought of our progress as backwards, just slow. A product of having a landmass larger than the continental US and only 1/6th the population. Today though, that opinion changes. Drastically. Why?
 
This morning, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy announced that they now more or less have the go ahead for the implementation of a mandatory, ISP level internet filter dubbed the "Clean Feed". It hasn't been all the way through parliament yet, but it is expected to pass and be fully operational by August 2010. This brings my country in line with such open and free thinking nations as China and Iran. 
 
I am angry, and judging by the fact that within hours of the news being broken, #nocleanfeed has become a trending topic on twitter, my fellow Australians are as well. The filter is both in principal and practice, a horrible idea and deserves to die a slow and painful death. I'm also willing to bet that anyone reading this could bypass the thing in less than 5 minutes. 
 
I am angry. Angry at all the idiots along the entire line who ever thought this was a good idea, and perhaps even more angry and the many, many people who must have seen it and know how much of a stupid idea it was and didn't pull the minister aside and say "Y'know I'm not too sure about this whole internet censorship thing"
 
God damn....

So, this is a form of censorship?

" So, this is a form of censorship? "

" So, this is a form of censorship? "

Wow. Just, wow.
 
Edit: I wonder how Yahtzee/Zero Punctuation will take this...

You guys have guns, right?

good job Australia.

Wow that is fucking gay. What kind of twat would do that? 
 
Don't fix it if it aint broken.

" You guys have guns, right? "

" Wow that is fucking gay. What kind of twat would do that?   Don't fix it if it aint broken. "

" @Meteora said:

" Wow that is fucking gay. What kind of twat would do that?   Don't fix it if it aint broken. "

The same twat that censored Left 4 Dead 2. "

Move to New Zealand. Problem solved.

" You guys have guns, right? "

" @Seedofpower said:

" @Meteora said:

" Wow that is fucking gay. What kind of twat would do that?   Don't fix it if it aint broken. "

The same twat that censored Left 4 Dead 2. "

OH THAT TWAT?!  You're fucking kidding me. Who the fuck elected/appointed him in the first place? "

" @Seedofpower said:

" @Meteora said:

" Wow that is fucking gay. What kind of twat would do that?   Don't fix it if it aint broken. "

The same twat that censored Left 4 Dead 2. "

OH THAT TWAT?!  You're fucking kidding me. Who the fuck elected/appointed him in the first place? "

I always thought Australia was about open-mindedness, multi-culturism and freedom of speech. Which is why I always found their bans on video games odd... And now this!? I think they just hate video games, the internet and computers in general.

Question?  Why the fuck do Aussies keep electing these censoring big brother wanna be scum bags?  When you get right down to it, it's the Australian people who are really at fault here.  The voters of your country have to care enough to send a message, and by the fact that I've been reading about these assholes for many years now, it's obvious the mass majority of your people just don't give a rats ass.  They just don't care.

Militias have a reason to exist. So the firewall doesn't work well now. Think they won't upgrade it? Think they won't find it more convenient to just block things like Twitter and any forums like Giant Bomb that show dissent? It's so much easier when you don't have to listen to opposition. Just look at China. Start buying your armament now. And no, I'm not Australian, but this is the same level of insanity that people were screaming would happen in the US for years because of things like the patriot act. Turns out they were all looking at the wrong former colony.

" Question?  Why the fuck do Aussies keep electing these censoring big brother wanna be scum bags?  When you get right down to it, it's the Australian people who are really at fault here.  The voters of your country have to care enough to send a message, and by the fact that I've been reading about these assholes for many years now, it's obvious the mass majority of your people just don't give a rats ass.  They just don't care. "

" @Meteora said:

" @Seedofpower said:

" @Meteora said:

" Wow that is fucking gay. What kind of twat would do that?   Don't fix it if it aint broken. "

The same twat that censored Left 4 Dead 2. "

OH THAT TWAT?!  You're fucking kidding me. Who the fuck elected/appointed him in the first place? "

. . . . the people of Australia. "

@Randolph

" Question?  Why the fuck do Aussies keep electing these censoring big brother wanna be scum bags?  When you get right down to it, it's the Australian people who are really at fault here.  The voters of your country have to care enough to send a message, and by the fact that I've been reading about these assholes for many years now, it's obvious the mass majority of your people just don't give a rats ass.  They just don't care. "

Well when the censorship snowballs from games and internet into books and TV, he'll know he fucked up.

" I always thought Australia was about open-mindedness, multi-culturism and freedom of speech. Which is why I always found their bans on video games odd... And now this!? I think they just hate video games, the internet and computers in general. "

" @Seedofpower said:

" @Meteora said:

" @Seedofpower said:

" @Meteora said:

" Wow that is fucking gay. What kind of twat would do that?   Don't fix it if it aint broken. "

The same twat that censored Left 4 Dead 2. "

OH THAT TWAT?!  You're fucking kidding me. Who the fuck elected/appointed him in the first place? "

. . . . the people of Australia. "

Actually, no. Atkinson was appointed by the government of the state of South Australia. One easy way to out him is to vote Labour out at the next state election (here's hoping for a monumental sex scandal or some such).  Is there a source for the filter being greenlit? I haven't seen anything about it recently on OCAU or anything, which would be quite strange if true (or maybe I missed it..).  I honestly never thought I'd vote Liberal, but I am planning on it next election. I was so happy to get John Howard out, but I guess it's a case of better the devil you know, as he didn't have any plans for this sort of filter. Voting for Abbott though.. Ugh. Makes my stomach churn. "

EDIT: About the opt in filter. There already is one. Its been around for years. its a client based one meant to help parents keep their kids safe online - so they don't stumble on porn and shit like that. Its adjustable and I'm all for it. It helps parents and more importantly, it lets them decide what is and isn't appropriate for their kids. "

" @Vamino said:

" @Seedofpower said:

" @Meteora said:

" @Seedofpower said:

" @Meteora said:

" Wow that is fucking gay. What kind of twat would do that?   Don't fix it if it aint broken. "

The same twat that censored Left 4 Dead 2. "

OH THAT TWAT?!  You're fucking kidding me. Who the fuck elected/appointed him in the first place? "

. . . . the people of Australia. "

Actually, no. Atkinson was appointed by the government of the state of South Australia. One easy way to out him is to vote Labour out at the next state election (here's hoping for a monumental sex scandal or some such).  Is there a source for the filter being greenlit? I haven't seen anything about it recently on OCAU or anything, which would be quite strange if true (or maybe I missed it..).  I honestly never thought I'd vote Liberal, but I am planning on it next election. I was so happy to get John Howard out, but I guess it's a case of better the devil you know, as he didn't have any plans for this sort of filter. Voting for Abbott though.. Ugh. Makes my stomach churn. "

ABC article
 
Official Press Release  
 
EDIT: About the opt in filter. There already is one. Its been around for years. its a client based one meant to help parents keep their kids safe online - so they don't stumble on porn and shit like that. Its adjustable and I'm all for it. It helps parents and more importantly, it lets them decide what is and isn't appropriate for their kids. "

As long as I can still access midget porn, I'm happy.

" This is to block content from sites with illegal content such as child pornography, not to censor legal content.  "

" @NoDeath: Hey man, if the list is public, can you show it to us? I'd like to see what these sites are, wanna know what the Australian government consider illegal or pornographic. "

A law similar to this was proposed in Germany as well, and passed almost all the necessary steps and institutions and votes.
 But every law has to be signed by the Bundespräsident (the "highest" office, though it is more representative than power-holding), and he straight-out refused to sign it.
Good man.

Damn it,  they give is a fucking chance for an R18+ in video games while ruining a chance to see most R18+ stuff on the god damn fucking internet.
 
I feel I wasted a god damn vote on that scrawny little fuckwitted politician. I'd go complain but surprise surprise, HE ISN'T IN THE GOD DAMN MOTHERFUCKING COUNTRY AGAIN!

Your culture is going to be controlled now. 
 
It's for the kids though, so it's okay. You never needed that shit anyway. I guess it's easier than making your own choices.
 
So when are one of you guys gonna stand in front of a parade of tanks? Get shot at by government militia because you are protesting a fixed election?  

The 'roos roole with iron feet.

My friend linked me to news of this this afternoon.  I'm fucking furious. 
 
I'm leaving this country for certain now.

Does the Australian Government think they rule a nation of children and babies?

 When you consider that most of the Liberals will vote against it simply on party lines
 

" You know after all this fuss, you probably won't even notice the difference once they implement it. "

" Just had a thought. Time to start a gamer political party? "

Christ, let's hope it gets turned around in parliament, I can't see the coalition voting for it, I HIGHLY doubt the Greens will, but that bloody Family First tosser might. And no, our Governor general won't do jack to save us, I haven't seen her do anything at all. I hope people are realising how much of disaster Labor has been in every area, they have done nothing right, lied to us, made Australia backrupt for the next 30 years and have the gall to accuse the coalition of wrongdoing. It's time like these I wish Howard was back in charge. Anywho,  I have never protested in my life, but if there's ever a public demonstration in Melbourne against this thing, I'm there. 
 
And if all else fails, Anonymous will save us.

" @Vamino said:

 When you consider that most of the Liberals will vote against it simply on party lines
 

Hmm, I'm not so sure. Remember, its the ultra-conservative, right-wing, wowzer SOBs led by Abbott, Andrews (God, I hate this bible bashing prick) and Minchin calling the shots with the Coalition now. This kind of thing seems right up their alley. This could get bi-partisan support if/when it hits the House of Representatives.  Also, to follow on your point about legitimate sites being wrongfully blacklisted, this system is also supposed to have a significant, adverse impact on all of our download speeds. Given we're years behind the developed world in that aspect as it is, this is a truly sobering thought. Its completely unacceptable and unnecessary. "

To quote the great Ryan Davis; "get a better country".

" You know after all this fuss, you probably won't even notice the difference once they implement it. "