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| Malcolm Turnbull disowned internet filter policy hours after championing it | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hours before the Coalition backed down on its 11th-hour policy of introducing an opt-out internet filter, the opposition communications spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull, was championing it on the youth radio station Triple J. | |
| In a policy document published online on Thursday the Coalition backed an opt-out filter for home Wi-Fi and smartphones to be installed by internet service providers. | |
| A few hours later Turnbull released a statement saying the Coalition had "never" supported a mandatory filter. | A few hours later Turnbull released a statement saying the Coalition had "never" supported a mandatory filter. |
| It said: "The Coalition has never supported mandatory internet filtering. Indeed, we have a long record of opposing it. | |
| "The policy which was issued today was poorly worded and incorrectly indicated that the Coalition supported an 'opt-out' system of internet filtering for both mobile and fixed line services. That is not our policy and never has been." | |
| But earlier in the day, appearing on Triple J's current affairs program Hack with the deputy prime minister, Anthony Albanese, Turnbull explained and defended the filter (comments at 26m20s). | |
| "What is being proposed is the filter will be contained in software installed in people's smartphones or modems which can be disabled at their option so it's not a filter that operates at the service side, it doesn't slow down the internet. It's basically the same as installing a filter on your computer but a lot of people technically struggle to do that so what it does, it's essentially installing that software either in the smartphone or modem which you can switch off, but that's your call," he said. | |
| After the Coalition announced the backdown Turnbull was questioned on Twitter about backing the policy on Triple J. | After the Coalition announced the backdown Turnbull was questioned on Twitter about backing the policy on Triple J. |
| "I read policy shortly before going on @triplej I did my best to make sense of it, until I could ensure it was authoritatively corrected," he replied. | |
| The opposition leader, Tony Abbott, was also questioned about the backdown while campaigning, and admitted he had only skimmed the policy before it was published. | |
| "I read the policy last night, quickly it has to be said; I thought it was a reference to the ability of people to get an internet-based filter. I am sorry it was poorly worded; that has been cleared up," he said. | "I read the policy last night, quickly it has to be said; I thought it was a reference to the ability of people to get an internet-based filter. I am sorry it was poorly worded; that has been cleared up," he said. |
| In the original policy the Coalition said "adult content" would be filtered out, though it did not define such content. The policy document referred to the proposed UK filter, which is focused on blocking porn websites as well as illegal images. | In the original policy the Coalition said "adult content" would be filtered out, though it did not define such content. The policy document referred to the proposed UK filter, which is focused on blocking porn websites as well as illegal images. |
| "The Coalition believes that keeping children safe online is ultimately the responsibility of parents and others charged with the welfare of children – but they need better support from government and industry," the policy said. | "The Coalition believes that keeping children safe online is ultimately the responsibility of parents and others charged with the welfare of children – but they need better support from government and industry," the policy said. |
| Labor took a mandatory internet filter to the 2010 election but abandoned the plans last year. While the Coalition initially supported the policy it dumped it in the lead-up to the 2010 election and instead encouraged parents to monitor their children's internet usage. | Labor took a mandatory internet filter to the 2010 election but abandoned the plans last year. While the Coalition initially supported the policy it dumped it in the lead-up to the 2010 election and instead encouraged parents to monitor their children's internet usage. |
| On Friday Albanese suggested the incident had wider implications for Coalition policy uncertainty. | On Friday Albanese suggested the incident had wider implications for Coalition policy uncertainty. |
| "We saw [the internet filter policy] released in the afternoon and it didn't last until the evening. | "We saw [the internet filter policy] released in the afternoon and it didn't last until the evening. |
| "How many other policies do they have in their bottom drawer that they don't want to tell Australians about?" | "How many other policies do they have in their bottom drawer that they don't want to tell Australians about?" |
| Abbott defended the about-turn on Melbourne radio 3AW, saying: "It took Labor three years to realise it made a mistake on internet filter. It took us three minutes." | Abbott defended the about-turn on Melbourne radio 3AW, saying: "It took Labor three years to realise it made a mistake on internet filter. It took us three minutes." |
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