Internet Australia calls on Turnbull to review policy

Malcolm Turnbull’s move to shift responsibility for policy areas including copyright law to the Communications portfolio is a sign the new Prime Minister is taking “a more realistic approach to internet legislation”, according to Internet Australia CEO Laurie Patton.

Patton praised the new Prime Minister for the move, urging him to re-evaluate internet laws brought in by his predecessor including the Data Retention Act.

“We believe that the Data Retention Act is fundamentally flawed. Similar laws in other advanced countries are being watered down or scrapped in response to concerns that they infringe acceptable privacy protections while having been shown to have limited or no effect in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

“At the very least Internet Australia would like to see the number of agencies with access reduced and increased oversight, preferably by way of a judicial warrant, as a means of ensuring public trust and confidence in the process.”

In terms of copyright law, Patton also criticised the legislation to block known piracy sites.

He said Internet Australia believes this and a number of other ad hoc laws passed by the Abbott government “have little chance of achieving their stated aim, but do have the very real likelihood of damaging the integrity and and utility of the internet”.

Internet Australia has also called on Communications Minister Mitch Fifield to take bold action to ensure Australia is equipped to compete in the emerging digitally enabled global economy.

The most pressing need is equal access to fast and cost-effective broadband, Patton said, noting that without active support from government, Australia will not be able to benefit from internet-led innovation.

“Hopefully, having a communications minister with a ‘tech savvy’ Prime Minister will see things change and there’ll be a greater focus on digital innovation,” he said.

Image courtesy of Quinn Dombrowski under CC