The Government’s Internet security plan to store the web history of all Australians for up to two years has been put on the backburner until after next year’s election — even though submissions have only just closed for the Inquiry into reform of national security legislation.
It is likely that the Inquiry will agree to the push for expanded powers, and that legislative reforms will be enacted very early in the term of our next government, whether Labor or Liberal. The Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 was passed by the Senate this week. This occurred before the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety got the chance to do its work and before the public was able to give evidence.
The haste to pass legislation before appropriate public and parliamentary debate reflects an international trend towards the enactment of harmonised laws to the detriment of national sovereignty — via redwolf.newsvine.com