Feds to establish cyber-safety committee

The Federal Government plans to establish a joint select committee to report on cyber-safety issues and ways to mitigate them.

The committee would comprise 12 members, of whom seven would be nominated by the Government, up to four by the Opposition, and the remainder by independents.

The committee will be asked to inquire into the online experience of Australian children, including cyber-bullying, exposure to illegal content and "inappropriate" social and health behaviours.

It would also review the prevalence, implications and risk of identity theft and breaches of privacy.

Cyber-safety measures such as education, filtering, regulation and enforcement would be reviewed to determine their effectiveness in Australia and internationally.

In addition, the committee was to investigate other relevant matters referred by the House of Representatives, Senate, or Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Stephen Conroy.

The committee was proposed by Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Anthony Albanese and approved by the House of Representatives today.

The committee has been asked to present a final report by February 11, 2011.