For three years, the internet lobby has been fighting a losing battle to stop the laws, which would require them to put filters in place that would, in theory, block illegal internet content. Last week, the federal government delayed the legislation and gave ISPs an opportunity to work within a voluntary filtering scheme adopted by Optus, Telstra and Primus.
However, the voluntary filter scheme rather has fractured the industry than united it, with two major ISPs, Internode and TPG, refusing to co-operate.
Internet Industry Association chief executive Peter Coroneos conceded it had become too difficult to resist pressure for an internet filter scheme and said that ISPs should seize the opportunity to show they could work without legislation. Read more.