Govt bans online suicide incitement

The new rules -- introduced by the amendments to the national Criminal Code -- will see infringements by individuals face a maximum penalty of up to AU$110,000. Corporations could shell out AU$550,000.

The legislation will come into effect six months after the Governor-General signs them into law, which is likely to be in the next several weeks.

Although the legislation is broad enough to cover any transmission medium, its introductory memorandum highlights the Internet as the primary target.

"The proposed offences are particularly aims at use of the Internet, e-mail and other online applications and are intended to cover the range of activities that a person can engage in when using these," it notes.

Minister for Justice Senator Chris Ellison said in a statement the legislation would assist in preventing the use of the Internet to disseminate information that would encourage "vulnerable individuals" to take their own lives.

One organisation which would likely be affected by the new laws is Exit International, the pro-euthanasia organisation founded by Doctor Philip Nitschke. Exit currently hosts several items on its Web site dealing with the practicalities of committing euthanasia.

While a spokesperson from Exit was not immediately available to comment on the new laws, Senator Ellison was keen to make it clear the legislation would not target legitimate euthanasia campaigners.

"A person engaged in genuine debate over euthanasia-related law reform will not be restricted by these changes because such material would not 'counsel or incite' suicide, or promote or provide instruction on a particular method of committing suicide, as required by these offences," he said in his statement.