Oz government backs 'Big Brother' tactics to store internet data of every citizen

Sydney, July 13(ANI): The Australian Government has backed plan to compel every telecom company amass the internet and phone data of all Australians for up to two years.

The reasoning given by the government behind such a plan is that it is needed to allow our intelligence and police agencies to efficiently target organised criminals and terrorists.

"In this day and age, an age where governments all around the world are grappling with the challenges of terrorism and organised crime, it is important that our relevant agencies have access to the information that they need," The Age quoted assistant Treasurer, David Bradbury, as saying.

The Coalition, however, has declined to throw its support behind the contentious data -retention scheme, with its legal spokesman, George Brandis, who also sits on the committee reviewing the proposal, saying he would 'examine the issues carefully'.

Brandis' response was sparked by a report, which stated a parliamentary committee was considering the scheme as part of a review of national security legislation.

It is only one among more than 40 proposals contained in a discussion paper provided to the committee. If they were all passed it would be the most significant expansion of the intelligence community's powers since the Howard-era reforms of the early 2000s.

The Greens and civil liberties groups described the government's plan as an assault on privacy. (ANI)