Web filter going ahead despite 'shelved' reports

COMMUNICATIONS minister Stephen Conroy denies that the internet filter has been shelved.

THE Federal Government has rejected claims it has abandoned plans to introduce mandatory internet filtering before the next election.

While legislation is yet to be introduced into Parliament, a spokeswoman for Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the Government remained committed to the policy.

Labor says the internet filter is needed to block access to material such as child pornography and other illegal content.

The spokeswoman said reports a promise to introduce the filter before the next election had been shelved were incorrect.

"The Government is committed to the cyber safety policy," she said.

The department was working with other government agencies to consider submissions on its filter policy and examine whether the ideas could enhance accountability and transparency measures.

But Australian Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam said a mandatory filter was unworkable, and called on the Rudd Government to abandon the plan altogether.

"Opposition against the internet filter is widespread because it will do precisely nothing to curb the distribution of illegal material online, while establishing the architecture for greater government censorship in the future," Senator Ludlam said

Some of the world's largest providers of internet services, including Google and Yahoo!, have criticised the Government's plans, describing the filtering policy as heavy-handed.

Google maintains that while protecting the free exchange of ideas and information could not be without some limits, people should retain the right to freedom of expression.

The US State Department and the US ambassador to Australia, Jeff Bleich, have also been critical.

"We have been able to accomplish the goals that Australia has described, which is to capture and prosecute child pornographers… without having to use internet filters," Mr Bleich said earlier this month.