Only Refused Classification (RC) material will make the blacklist and be mandatory blocked, he told SBS’s Insight program. He also revealed plans to move control of the classification of the blacklist from the Australian Communications Media Authority to the Classification Board.

“Refused classification is the mandatory aspect and then parents if the technology allows, if we can work our way through the technical issues then parents will be given a range of options of other material that they can choose to block for their children.” The Minister’s admission is a shift away from his initial proposal to mandatory block both illegal and prohibited material.

Minister gains some support

The announcement was welcomed by both The Australian Christian Lobby and The Australian Sex Party - who found themselves, for the first time, in agreement on the issue. Lyle Shelton from the Australian Christian Lobby backed away from wanting R and X rated material mandatory blocked.

“We’re happy with what the Government’s put on the table, that RC material be included in this and that there be an opt in option for parents who want a high level of protection for their kids.”

While Fiona Patten, convenor of The Australian Sex Party, welcomed the news she first heard on the Insight forum. “I’m very pleased to hear that X rated will no longer be on the blacklist because it ’s currently on it.”

With regards to who controls the classification of the blacklist, the Minister said ”I think it’ s fair to say that there is an argument that faceless bureaucrats are just making decisions and nobody knows….what I’m looking at, at the moment is a system whereby the Classification Board can have a role in making that final determination.”

Conroy focuses attention elsewhere

Conroy made a vocal attack on the iiNet case during the CommsDay Summit in Sydney, detracting attention away from the proposed highly contested net filter.

In an address to the Summit, Conroy attacked iiNet for their ‘stunning defence’.

"The capacity to be able to ignore what your customers are doing on your network is being fought out in the Courts but I thought the defence of ‘we have no idea what anyone is downloading over our network' was a classic," Conroy said.

rty and it appears to be working pretty well.Fiona's is on the programe at 7 mins and 50 secs in the second segment. See Link Below.

See SBS Insight Program > http://www.sbs.com.au/news