Editing Stephen Conroy (section)

===Portfolio===
Conroy was [[Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Australia)|Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy]] in the [[First Rudd Ministry|First Rudd]], [[First Gillard Ministry|First Gillard]] and [[Second Gillard Ministry|Second Gillard]] Ministries. The NBN roll out was dogged with delay and cost blowouts in his time as minister. In that role, he was responsible for [[Internet censorship in Australia|internet censorship]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080101054613/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/31/2129471.htm Conroy announces mandatory internet filters to protect children] – ''ABC News'', 31 December 2007</ref> the [[National Broadband Network]],{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} and the proposed [[Freeview (Australia)|switch to digital television]] as a complete replacement for analogue.<ref name=minifut/><ref>[http://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications_for_business/funding_programs__and__support/national_broadband_network National Broadband Network] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521213707/http://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications_for_business/funding_programs__and__support/national_broadband_network |date=21 May 2009 }}</ref> In May 2010 he was appointed as a founding member to a new United Nations commission, the [[Broadband Commission for Digital Development]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/conroy-joins-un-broadband-commission-20100511-urmc.html|title=Conroy joins UN broadband commission|date=11 May 2010 }}</ref>

==== Internet censorship ====

{{Main|Internet censorship in Australia}}
Conroy faced severe criticism over his Internet censorship policies from various groups. While initially promoted as a way to block child pornography, the censorship policy has been extended to include legal material traditionally refused classification by the [[Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|Office of Film and Literature Classification]] (now known as the [[Australian Classification Board]]), including sites depicting drug use, crime, sex, cruelty, violence or "revolting and abhorrent phenomena" that "offend against the standards of morality".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/technology/biztech/web-censorship-plan-heads-towards-a-dead-end/2009/02/26/1235237810486.html|title=Web censorship plan heads towards a dead end - BizTech - Technology|date=26 February 2009}}</ref> On 19 March 2009 it was reported that [[Australian Communications and Media Authority|ACMA]]'s blacklist of banned sites had been leaked online, and had been published by [[WikiLeaks]]. About half of the list was child-porn related; the remainder included sites dealing with legal porn, online gambling, euthanasia, Christianity and fringe religions; sites belonging to a tour operator, dentist and animal carers were also listed.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/dentist-tuckshop-cited-on-web-blacklist-20090615-ca9x.html Dentist, tuckshop cited on web blacklist], smh.com.au; accessed 18 September 2014.</ref> Conroy described the leak and publication of the blacklist as "grossly irresponsible" and that it undermined efforts to improve "cyber safety".<ref>{{cite web|last=Moses|first=Asher|title=Blacklisted websites revealed|work=[[Brisbane Times]]|date=19 March 2009|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/technology/blacklisted-websites-revealed/2009/03/19/1237054961383.html|access-date=19 March 2009}}</ref> In June 2009 he was named "Internet villain of the year" at the 11th annual Internet industry awards in the UK, for "individuals or organisations that have upset the Internet industry and hampered its development – those whom the industry loves to hate."<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/conroy-named-internet-villain-of-the-year-20090713-di8q.html Conroy named Internet Villain of the Year], smh.com.au; accessed 18 September 2014.</ref>

In December 2009 "Internet pranksters" registered the domain name stephenconroy.com.au<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/spoof-conroy-website-protests-at-internet-filter-plan-20091218-l1bn.html|title=Spoof Conroy website protests at internet filter plan|first=Asher|last=Moses|date=18 December 2009}}</ref> which was swiftly removed by [[auDA]], raising concerns about auDA's political neutrality and the further potential for suppression of political speech after the proposed mandatory Internet filter is legislated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2009/12/21/the-swift-takedown-of-stephenconroy-com-au/|title=The swift takedown of stephenconroy.com.au|date=21 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efa.org.au/2009/12/22/media-release-electronic-frontiers-australia-surprised-at-auda-decision-to-remove-stephenconroy-com-au/|title=Media Release: Electronic Frontiers Australia Surprised at auDA Decision to Remove StephenConroy.com.au - Electronic Frontiers Australia}}</ref>

In May 2010, Conroy was accused of deliberately misrepresenting iiNet's position with regards to the new internet filter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/government-tech-policy/39475-iinet-says-sen-conroy-lied |title=iiNet says Sen. Conroy lied |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603041132/http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/government-tech-policy/39475-iinet-says-sen-conroy-lied |archive-date=3 June 2010}}</ref> His department could also not say where he obtained other figures from, such as how he believes that 85% of ISPs support the new filter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/348361/iinet_conroy_misrepresents_our_filtering_stance/?fp=16&fpid=1 |title=iiNet: Conroy misrepresents our filtering stance}}</ref>

In September 2012 Conroy stated:{{blockquote|"The regulation of telecommunications powers in Australia is exclusively federal. That means I am in charge of spectrum auctions, and if I say to everyone in this room 'if you want to bid in our spectrum auction you'd better wear red underpants on your head', I've got some news for you. You'll be wearing them on your head ... I have unfettered legal power."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/government-it/senators-red-undie-remarks-fall-flat-in-new-york-20120928-26pqt.html|title=Senator's 'red undie' remarks fall flat in New York|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=29 September 2012}}</ref>}}