Australia Worst In The World For Piracy, According To Our Attorney-General

Australia’s piracy crackdown is coming. It’s just a matter of when. The architect of the plan, Attorney General George Brandis, appeared before a Senate Estimates Committee late last week, and confirmed that the three-strikes plan against piracy is still on the table, but not before slamming his country with the brand of “worst nation for piracy on the planet”.

In an exchange with Greens’ Senator Scott Ludlam, Brandis confirmed that a three-strikes program is something he’s considering, given that Australia has such a torrid history with piracy.

When asked by Senator Ludlam about anti-piracy measures he’s considering, Brandis replied:

Unlike the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, France and many other comparable countries, Australia lacks any effective protection against online piracy. Australia, I’m sorry to say, is the worst offender of any country in the world when it comes to piracy, and I’m very concerned that the legitimate rights and interests of rightsholders and content creators are being compromised by that activity.

Brandis was also asked about the three-strikes plan, and confirmed that it was still on the table for consideration.

But that was all Brandis was willing to confirm: the Attorney General refused to reveal who he had been consulting with when it came to the development of the anti-piracy plan.

The new Coalition government is considering a raft of anti-piracy measures, including a measured three-strikes plan that may see some users fined, charged or removed from their particular internet service provider if the warning limit is reached.

Other methods reportedly in Brandis’ plan includes site blocking measures similar to those implemented in the UK. Sites like The Pirate Bay and other sites known to host anti-piracy material would likely be blocked under such a plan.

Brandis has reportedly already taken said plans to Cabinet, and is in close consultation with the content industry and studios to make sure that the measures pass.

What do you think is the best way to stop piracy in Australia? Tell us in the comments.