In the wake of the Australian Government’s statement on national security, Internet Australia chief Laurie Patton has called for it to consult widely with independent industry experts before taking decisions on Internet security.

Reacting to Prime Minister Turnbull’s statement this week — and the response on security from Opposition Leader Bill Shorten — the executive director of IA cited the "fundamentally flawed" data retention scheme as the "quintessential example of what happens when government lawyers who don't understand how the Internet actually works are expected to draft workable Internet laws".

Patton said IA has sought to ensure that the potential impact of any new laws or regulations on the legitimate use of the Internet is properly taken into consideration.

"In recent years we've seen site-blocking legislation enacted despite little evidence it really works and the Data Retention Act that, quite frankly, is such a mess nobody in government really wants to talk about it," Patton claimed.

According to IA, industry estimates there are at least 250 ISPs, and possibly more than 400, who are required to collect and store everyone's private metadata.

Patton says, however, only 210 applied for government funding and about 180 were approved.

“The Attorney-General's Department, which is responsible for the legislation, admits it doesn't know how many there are, much less how to contact them all.

"Effectively, we have a scheme so full of holes you have to ask why they bothered. If we have any hope of developing workable solutions to serious national security issues surely it makes sense, this time around, to talk to people with the appropriate technical knowledge?"

According to Patton, Internet Australia believes it is ideally placed to work with the relevant authorities to develop solutions that balance the needs of Australia’s security organisations with the rights of ordinary Internet users. “IA is a member of a global group of 110 organisations with 90,000 members, that was established by the founders of the Internet. It is the peak body overseeing policy development and technical standards for the Internet.

"There's no doubting that we are now facing serious problems that were unforeseen when the Internet was created 25 years ago. Surely it makes sense to actively involve the people who built the Internet, and those who run it from day to day, as we search for ways to avoid its misuse by terrorists and other law breakers?," Patton concluded.