Australia to ban material that incites terrorism

The Straits Times, April 14, 2007


CANBERRA - AUSTRALIAN federal and state governments agreed yesterday to ban the sale of books, DVDs and other materials that advocate terrorism, extending laws that are already tough.

Australian law already allows officials to remove from sale materials that 'promote, incite or instruct (people) in matters of crime or violence'.

Under the changes, anything judged to advocate terrorism would also be restricted.

The new plan would also mean imported material judged to glorify or encourage acts of terrorism can be barred from entering Australia.

The laws do not seek to prosecute the writers, producers, sellers or buyers of such material - but to remove it from sale.

Federal Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock said he expected the changes would be criticised by free-speech advocates, but said that security concerns were more important.

'When you're dealing with the advocacy of terrorism, which puts people's lives at risk, I think...this is not a matter of people having a right to look at it,' he said.

'It's a question of whether it encourages people to involve themselves in committing acts of this sort.'

The plan needs agreement at state and federal levels because the national classification board decides what material should be banned, but the states are responsible for enforcing the rulings.

ASSOCIATED PRESS