Site-blocking bill passes lower house

Draft laws blocking Australians from illegally downloading popular TV series like Game Of Thrones have passed the lower house.

The controversial powers allow rights holders to seek a court injunction forcing internet service providers to block access to piracy websites hosted overseas.

Foreign sites that allow illegal downloads of TV shows, movies or music will be shut off to Australians.

Labor supports the bill, ensuring the measures will pass the Senate.

However, following recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry, the government has agreed to consider changes including lowering the threshold for proving piracy and requiring a landing page to be pasted on blocked sites to notify users of the court order.

People will not be able to sue carriage services for blocking sites, and the courts will decide on blocking costs.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the laws will not apply to virtual private networks where, for example, Australian Netflix users hide their location to access the American site.

The powers will be reviewed after 18 months to ensure they are effective.

"If this does not work as well as we liked, we'll look at it again," the minister told parliament on Tuesday.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said the level of online piracy necessitated government action because Australian industries were also being hit hard.

"The bill is directed, essentially, at the worst of the worst," he said.