Topic: Net Neutrality
Country: Australia
Delegate Name: Alex Vankuiken
School: Grand Rapids City High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Australia position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Net Neutrality is the idea that all parts of the internet should be equally accessible regardless of the source or provider, the internet being the worldwide computerized global communication network. Australia does not have enforced Net Neutrality laws. Although there is some precedence to instate a law, Australia has never seen Net Neutrality as very important. The reason for this is that we fund the National Broadband Network (NBN) which provides standardized internet access to all. Companies in Australia buy from this network and provide internet at different rates through various bundles and packages. This encourages healthy competition in Australia, and combined with our powerful and dedicated consumer laws, we make sure that corporations cannot abuse the rights of consumers. Companies such as Telstra have tried to give exclusive rights to other firms in the past, but never has it become a significant problem.
Australia does not have any strong opinion on Net Neutrality. The purpose of Net Neutrality would be primarily to protect consumers and allow consistent free speech, something which Australia does strive for. It definitely would be good for the country to eventually enact Net Neutrality laws, but as our consumers are protected and there is a healthy amount of competition, acting immediately without any presumption would be frivolous. Access to the internet is not a problem here, and we have not seen any free speech suppression over the internet in this state. Leaving the internet as it is also has its own merits, as a free market creates competition and competition creates innovation. We don’t see net neutrality as a bad thing, but it certainly is unnecessary. Until an issue emerges or a general consensus rises as to the necessity of Net Neutrality, Australia will not enact any Net Neutrality laws.
