NETALERT – PROTECTING AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES ONLINE GOES LIVE
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP stated that from today that local families will be able to download free filters for their home computers and get practical advice about internet safety from a dedicated hotline and web address.
“Today was the launch of the hotline, web address and filters, the programme going live and the Howard Government recognises that no single measure can protect children from online harm and in fact, traditional parenting skills have never been more important,” Mr Ruddock said.
“Tackling internet safety can be compared to wearing a seatbelt. Although a seatbelt goes a long way to protecting you in a car accident, it is only part of the solution to keeping safe on the roads. Making the internet safe for our children is no different.
“Danger online is just a click away but this multi-faceted programme, combining services, education, regulation and policing ensures that families in my constituency can get the best from the internet, whilst minimising potential harm,” Philip Ruddock said.
Every Australian family and library will have access to a free filter through the $84.8 million National Filter Scheme. Parents, grandparents and carers will be able to download or order on a CD-ROM an accredited and tested internet content filter.
“All filter vendors under the scheme will be required to continually update their products to allow for advancements in technology and actively discourage the circumvention of their products.
“For the Australian Federal Police we are doubling the number of online police tracking down internet predators with an extra $43 million in funding, we are also working with schools and communities through a comprehensive outreach program and more internet safety officers.
“We are tackling the abuse of social networking sites with a new working group including industry, the Australian Federal Police and the internet regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to address the use of social networking websites by predators to contact and groom children on the internet.”
Parents, grandparents and carers can visit www.australia.gov.au/netalert from 10:30am today and call 1800 880 176 from 8am today seven days a week from 8am to 10pm for advice about managing online safety, as well as access to free internet content filters, and information about how they work.