Further, it found that only 21 per cent would be encouraged to stop infringing if they received a letter saying their account would be suspended, 17 per cent if the letter indicated their account had been used to infringe, and 17 per cent if the letter said their internet speed would be restricted. Meanwhile, only 5 per cent of respondents said nothing would make them stop pirating.

The top three things that would encourage Aussies to stop? If legal services were cheaper (39 per cent), if everything Australians wanted was available legally (38 per cent), and if everything they wanted was available legally online as soon as it was released elsewhere (36 per cent). These are views both Labor's Ed Husic and the Australian Greens' Scott Ludlam have been expressing, as well as consumers groups such as CHOICE.

John Stanton, chief executive of the Communications Alliance, which represents Australian ISPs, said the survey pointed to the need for heightened efforts by rights holders to make legal online content available to Australian internet users in a timely and affordable way, as part of an integrated strategy to minimise online infringement.

Mr Stanton also pointed to the upcoming copyright notice scheme code (which does not include sanctions such as suspension of consumers' accounts) as one way to curb piracy in Australia.

The code has been submitted it to the communications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, for approval and is due to be in place by September.