Internet censorship extending to Australia

However, South Australia’s Attorney-General has given his defense regarding stricter laws on any political comment published on the internet. Anyone who posts comments or blogs must make known their real identity and postcode throughout election periods.

According to Michael Atkinson, it has always been a requirement that personal details for letters published during election periods are verified first. The new law, which requires similar verification on the internet, is aimed to ensure the public’s right to be well informed.

He said that the main purpose of the law is the public’s right to know who is making a comment during the election period.

"It will only apply to newspapers and extensions of newspapers."

Mr Atkinson says television and radio has always been regulated by the Commonwealth and it is most likely that comment on websites such as the ABC's would fall into that category.

The editor of The Advertiser newspaper Melvin Mansell is outraged by the Attorney-General's move. He said that the Attorney-General is simply trying to push away any criticism of government policy by implementing this law.

"The clear implication is that if you show enough dissent he's going to take action against you."

One current concern is that political comments made on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter may soon be regulated by the government too.

A group of major newspapers has branded the new law as draconian censorship of public comment. With much uproar among the community, the public will now wait and see what the government’s next step will be.