Voters divided over net filter

Labor's proposed web filter has become a controversial election issue.

Just two days ago, the Coalition announced it would not support the proposal and says it will scrap it altogether if they are elected on September 21.

Internet users around the country are divided over the prospect of Labor's plans to introduce a mandatory web filter.

Many activists against the filter said it's a violation of their civil liberties and digital rights.

But many family groups have welcomed plans to block a number of national and overseas refused classification sites.

SBS spoke to two parents with conflicting views on the proposed filter.

Dee Geary, a mother of two, believes she is able to monitor her child's use of the internet effectively, without a mandatory filter.

“My essential feeling is that I am quite happy with the amount of monitoring I'm doing and I don't feel that personally I need to be monitoring my child at the moment any more than I am,” Ms Geary said.

“We've already had discussions about what he's to view and not to view and in what context.”

But another parent, Ron Simpson, said he would feel more comfortable knowing his children would be protected online.

“In the main I think that anything that can stop people accidentally accessing that sort of information and that sort of stuff, the visuals... I think is good,” said Mr Simpson.

Ms Geary is looking for action from the government on the issue of child safety online, but feels both Labor and the Coalition should be focusing on educating families about the internet.

“Look I think if they were ploughing more money into education of parents and children and if parents were getting much more on the page about monitoring it, if they aren't already, then that would be more worthwhile,” said Ms Geary.

Turnbull takes it to the voters

Former Liberal Leader and candidate Malcolm Turnbull hosted a web filter forum in his electorate of Wentworth.

Mr Turnbull used social media to invite voters to have their say on the controversial issue.

Panellist and head of the influential lobby group GetUp, Simon Sheikh, declared Labor's filter “dead, buried and cremated.”

But the former Leader of the Opposition is adamant the filter would not protect children from dangers online.

“It would create a false sense of security for parents who think it made the internet safer for their children when in fact it hadn't done so at all,” said Mr Turnbull.

Senator Stephen Conroy's office released a statement on the issue:

“The Gillard Government does not support Refused Classification (RC) material being available on the internet.”

“This content includes child sexual abuse imagery, bestiality, sexual violence, detailed instruction in crime, violence or drug use and/or material that advocates the doing of a terrorist act.”

“The Government's policy is to introduce ISP level filtering for overseas hosted material which is RC under the existing National Classification Scheme.”

Now, with the Opposition and the Greens opposing the filter, it's slowly gathering momentum as a major election issue.