Australia Heads to Washington to Talk Net Censorship

Australian government officials were meeting in Washington to discuss proposed Web filters that has incurred the ire of the Obama Administration.

Australia's Communications Director Stephen Conroy has come under mounting pressure to reveal the content of discussions with US officials.

A leak of the so-called "black list" last year revealed over 1000 websites that would ultimately be filtered including the Betfair wagering exchange, that operates legally in Australia, and a dentist's site.

US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich appeared on ABC stating that the goals of cyber-safety could be achieved without censorship.

He said: "The internet needs to be free. It needs to be free the way we have said the skies have to be free, outer space has to be free, the polar caps have to be free, the oceans have to be free. They're shared resources of all the people of the world."

Greg Tingle of Gambling911.com has been monitoring the situation closely.

"If you enjoy and engage in political commentary and analysis, the filter may stop that also!" Tingle warned.  "If you enjoy sports betting, casino, online poker other other online games, some of that's likely to be lost. If you like FHM and Maxim poker babes online, that's likely history is the filter goes through. Real criminals don't conduct their business over normal internet channels.

"The government is also attempting to censor freelance journalists and online journalists and bloggers.  We here at Media Man will keep up the good fight. The filters is tipped to cost the Australian economy millions of dollars and job cuts, if it goes ahead.  All signs show that the Australian Government is hiding something (that we haven't found out yet about)! Internet filter - No Substitute For  A Good Parent!"

t way behind closed doors with no accountability."