Online-safety hotline for Oz

The US has its CyberTipline.com, Canada its Cybertip.ca, and Britain its hotline at the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre. "Within weeks" Australians too "will have access to a national online child protection hotline," as well a free filtering software, Australian IT reports. The Communications Ministry put the emphasis on the education part of the $99 million (US) program, saying parents will be able to call the hotline or visit the Web site "to get individual advice about online safety." There are hotlines in many other countries, but they focus largely on reporting child pornography. The Australian government is aiming to launch the hotline "in time for national child protection week, which begins September 7."