A parliamentary question regarding the federal Labor Party's stance on internet censorship and child protection. The Premier deflects, stating he's unaware of the federal decision and cautious of the Opposition's claims.

AnsweredQoN 1049Legislative Assembly
Asked
10 September 2003
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

I draw the Premier’s attention to the fact that this week is National Child Protection Week and refer to the federal Labor Party’s decision last night not to support amendments which would prevent access to banned material from the Internet, most of which is child pornography, through freedom of information laws, and ask - (1) Does the Premier agree with his federal colleagues, who voted against the Bill, that it was a step towards censorship of the Internet, as reported in a number of newspapers today? (2) Does the Premier believe the rights of our children should come before the rights of those that would exploit them by accessing this kind of material? Dr G.I. GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) This Opposition may not know it, but I do not turn on radio station 585 each night and listen to what is going on in the Australian Senate. Perhaps I should. Unfortunately, last night I had a lot of work to do about the future of Western Australia. I am not aware of the decision that was made in the Senate. Whenever members of the Opposition get up in this Parliament and make a claim about what someone in the Labor Party has said or done, I am always very cautious about accepting it as something upon which to have some sort of dialogue, because all too often we get misleading comments from the Opposition. I will look into the decision that was made in the federal Parliament and take into account the point of view that the member for Kingsley has raised.
(1) Does the Premier agree with his federal colleagues, who voted against the Bill, that it was a step towards censorship of the Internet, as reported in a number of newspapers today? (2) Does the Premier believe the rights of our children should come before the rights of those that would exploit them by accessing this kind of material? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) This Opposition may not know it, but I do not turn on radio station 585 each night and listen to what is going on in the Australian Senate. Perhaps I should. Unfortunately, last night I had a lot of work to do about the future of Western Australia. I am not aware of the decision that was made in the Senate. Whenever members of the Opposition get up in this Parliament and make a claim about what someone in the Labor Party has said or done, I am always very cautious about accepting it as something upon which to have some sort of dialogue, because all too often we get misleading comments from the Opposition. I will look into the decision that was made in the federal Parliament and take into account the point of view that the member for Kingsley has raised.
(2) Does the Premier believe the rights of our children should come before the rights of those that would exploit them by accessing this kind of material? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) This Opposition may not know it, but I do not turn on radio station 585 each night and listen to what is going on in the Australian Senate. Perhaps I should. Unfortunately, last night I had a lot of work to do about the future of Western Australia. I am not aware of the decision that was made in the Senate. Whenever members of the Opposition get up in this Parliament and make a claim about what someone in the Labor Party has said or done, I am always very cautious about accepting it as something upon which to have some sort of dialogue, because all too often we get misleading comments from the Opposition. I will look into the decision that was made in the federal Parliament and take into account the point of view that the member for Kingsley has raised.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) This Opposition may not know it, but I do not turn on radio station 585 each night and listen to what is going on in the Australian Senate. Perhaps I should. Unfortunately, last night I had a lot of work to do about the future of Western Australia. I am not aware of the decision that was made in the Senate. Whenever members of the Opposition get up in this Parliament and make a claim about what someone in the Labor Party has said or done, I am always very cautious about accepting it as something upon which to have some sort of dialogue, because all too often we get misleading comments from the Opposition. I will look into the decision that was made in the federal Parliament and take into account the point of view that the member for Kingsley has raised.
(1)-(2) This Opposition may not know it, but I do not turn on radio station 585 each night and listen to what is going on in the Australian Senate. Perhaps I should. Unfortunately, last night I had a lot of work to do about the future of Western Australia. I am not aware of the decision that was made in the Senate. Whenever members of the Opposition get up in this Parliament and make a claim about what someone in the Labor Party has said or done, I am always very cautious about accepting it as something upon which to have some sort of dialogue, because all too often we get misleading comments from the Opposition. I will look into the decision that was made in the federal Parliament and take into account the point of view that the member for Kingsley has raised.

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