Inquiry backs internet suicide ban (2 Viewers)

[AsyLum]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Breaking/Inquiry-backs-internet-suicide-ban/2005/05/13/1115843348071.html

Inquiry backs internet suicide ban
Canberra
May 13, 2005 - 10:43AM

A bipartisan Australian Senate committee has backed a Government bill to outlaw the use of the internet to encourage suicide.

An inquiry into the Criminal Code Amendment (Suicide Related Materials) Bill recommended the Senate pass it, but called for two changes.

The committee sought a change to the definition of "counsels or incites suicide" to "counsels or incites another person to commit or attempt to commit suicide".

And it called for the Attorney-General to report on the operation of the laws every year.

A further recommendation asked the Federal and State Governments to fund more research and programs on suicide prevention.

The bill introduces a maximum penalty of $110,000 for using the internet to access, transmit or make available material that counsels or incites suicide.

It would also cover material which promoted and provided instruction on a particular method of suicide.

The bill followed concerns overseas that suicide pacts had been organised online and strangers later met to carry them out together in remote areas.
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The Labor Party has backed the bill which, it believes, strikes a balance between protecting young and depressed people, while ensuring adults are still able to research information, be informed and debate euthanasia and suicide-related issues.

But Australian Democrats senator Brian Greig said in his dissenting report the party would not support the bill.

"This bill is simply another foolish attempt to censor the internet," Senator Greig said in the report.

He said the laws could make the online purchase of a book on voluntary euthanasia illegal, but enable the legal sale of the same book over the counter of a newsagent.

They could also make it an offence to merely discuss voluntary euthanasia on the internet.

"(The bill) completely fails to address the causes of suicide or offers any suggestions to help mitigate against this tragedy," Senator Greig said.

A qualifying report by independent senator Brian Harradine said the bill was necessary, but was not enough in itself.

"More resources are needed for proactive approaches to finding and helping suicidal people to overcome their personal difficulties and to live long and fulfilling lives," Senator Harradine said.

AAP

Ridiculous? Or on the right path?

 

[Korn]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Breaking/Inquiry-backs-internet-suicide-ban/2005/05/13/1115843348071.html



Ridiculous? Or on the right path?

So what does this mean, what will it only affect websites that are about suicide or does it impede on free speech and those ppl in forums who tell others to go ^#@$^^Y$%

 

[townie]

oh noes! nobody can say 'kill yourself tonight' anymore.

bullshit bill if u ask me, instead, y dont they spend money on suicide prevention, u cant censor the internet in a country like Australia, it wont work, and making it illegal might make more people look it up, or even worse, make suicide a social taboo meaning people wont seek help. it wont stop people committing suicide. i say, more education on suicide, to make people stop saying "oh, they're just seeking attention"

 

[Sweets]

You can't really censor the internet it is too hard to because it is such a worldwide thing. Plus are suicidal people really going to care about some stupid fine? In my opinion its like they think the internet is the cause of suicide when for many people it become a way of communicating when they feel so desperate.

I mean sure there are thos mass-suicides which people plan over the net but I really don't think a bill will stop them from occuring.

 

[Iron]

The main thing is to check in the bottom corner whether the site is "Peer reviewed", then you know that the recommendation has some academic integrity.

 

[Generator]

Chapter 3 of the report (Key Issues) is quite interesting, as you would expect.

 

[absolution*]

Time to start deleting some blog entries emo kiddies!

 

[transcendent]

That means JKDDragon can't post anymore 'Not across the road/vein, down the road/vein' pics.

 

[Generator]

That means JKDDragon can't post anymore 'Not across the road/vein, down the road/vein' pics.

If it's intended to encourage the act of suicide, anyway.

 

[iamsickofyear12]

If someone wants to put something on the internet the only thing that is going to stop them is not having the internet.

 

[withoutaface]

Whoever proposed that bill should kill themselves tonight.

 

[transcendent]

Seriously don't they have better things to do? Like deporting Amanda Vanstone to Africa and having a BBQ to feed the starving people with her as the main course?

 

[withoutaface]

Seriously don't they have better things to do? Like deporting Amanda Vanstone to Africa and having a BBQ to feed the starving people with her as the main course?

Send Big Kim over while we're at it

 

[Gavvvvvin]

Time to start deleting some blog entries emo kiddies!

LOLZ! .

 

[tattoodguy]

thats fucking disgusting.

this country is going further and further down the fucking drain it makes me fucking sick.

the leaders in this country have no fucking regard for the citizens.

who gives a fuck if suicide is a problem - they should fix it themselves,

If they ran the country properly probably less people would suicide. Fucking government.

you should have the right to incite suicide and any other crime including riots and terrorism.

If people are stupid enuff to listen to you and follow ur orders stiff fucking shit.

Why doesnt the government stop picking on us, and start taking some responsibility.

Why dont they start pointing fingers over some of their fuck ups.

Freedom is owned by all of us, politicians are scum bags, why should we listen to their bull shit.

our politicians think its ok to win an election by lying, they think its ok start a war based on lies, and they think its ok to leave our citizens without trial in foreign countries.

Why dont the politicians do something constructive for a fucking change instead of fucking banning a couple of dogs and banning the truth.

I cant believe they think they have the right to ban this type of information. If you want to suicide its ur fucking perogative.

 

[transcendent]

tattoodguy why do you blame the government for EVERYTHING?

 

[townie]

i agree with (most) of the sentiments expressed by tattoodguy (seems 2 be happening a lot l8ly)

 

[Not-That-Bright]

i agree with (most) of the sentiments expressed by tattoodguy (seems 2 be happening a lot l8ly)

Townie, they can't "censor" the internet, like many providers in the middle east do... However don't you think it's right for them to try to censor websites that teach people how to kill themselves?

I don't have a problem with adults accessing this material, but since it's very hard on the internet to determine adult from child I believe we need to do this.... for those emo kids we know and love.

 

[Generator]

*bump*

Marshall Perron: Freedom of speech is dead where euthanasia is concerned

Marshall Perron was chief minister of the Northern Territory 1988-95 and was the architect of the world's first voluntary euthanasia law.

The amendment of the moment - CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT (SUICIDE RELATED MATERIAL OFFENCES) ACT 2005

 

[Serius]

aww i miss tattoodguy, his posts made me laugh.

kinda discusting , censoring the internet
heres what i want to say and they can fine me if they want[ any media reading, this is the quotable part]

Your censorship laws are not going to stop people from commiting sucide. Sucide information/discussions that occur on the internet are not the cause of sucide, what is the cause is a persistant social problem that alienates people into a position where all they can do is kill themselves. Take away the internet and they are still going to kill themselves, albeit in a less informed or more dangerous to others way such as the recent spout of train track sucides which any idiot can accomplish [ with or without information on the internet] but puts passengers at risk.
instead of banning the means to an end, elliminate the problem. Only then will we see a real decline in youth sucide.