As the story of the 12 year old Alfie becoming a dad (or maybe not )unfolds I've watched with interest as the tabloids jump on the bandwagon. Now new applicants have turned up claiming they could be the father.

The tabloids have written fairly explicit stories of these lads and their alleged exploits with the mother of the baby-all are under the legal age. I wouldn't be surprised if more candidates appear !

Here is the rub-I know JK acuses the tabloids of promoting underage sex (I agree)-they are certainly exploiting this tale for profit. The private shenanigans of some kids aren't of national interest..it's pure titilation.

But is this reporting legal ?

There is a controversey raging in Australia with the newly elected Communications Minister claiming he wants to "filter" internet access which would make the country inline with China, Thailand and a couple of other repressive regimes.

It's doomed for failure and he now is begining his backdown-but not before he claimd all who opposed him, along with 2 self-appointed "child advocates" (one of whom I know and has never helped one single child with her substantial government grants)..as people who wanted to help the child porngraphers !.

Needless to say-this brought heaps of anger down upon him from masses of learned folk and academics.

BUT- I do know that not only is child porn illegal in Australia (the laws are virtually the same as the UK & USA)-it's also illegal to write desciptions of children having sex !

So fierce are the police they recently arrested and charged a tourist for taking pictures of clothed toddlers in a wading pool.

All the UK newspaper websites are accessible in Australia and some-the Daily Express, The Daily Mail publish a local weekly compendium of the week's UK news. Th story has also hit all the Aussie newspapers, if not the world's media.

Today I've written to the Minister for Comunications, the Hon Stephen Conroy ,to ask what action he will be taking against publications that have carried tales of descriptions of child sex-which is illegal.

..to be continued...

I thought you were all wanting more common sense in the law but now you are campaigning for more restrictions, more arrests, more paranoia, etc.

Good point Emma and you've spotted a legitimate area of problem. We want the law to be more sensible and tolerant and fair yet we also want the irresponsibility of the media and others to be curbed.

In an ideal world it would be self regulation.

Or prompting by commercial forces (i.e. public ceasing to purchase).

Sadly there's an element in all of us that loves the titillation of appalling behaviour and graphic, nasty coverage.

'Twas ever such. Christians and lions.

Emma Bee wrote:
I thought you were all wanting more common sense in the law but now you are campaigning for more restrictions, more arrests, more paranoia, etc.

true Emma..I certainly want more "common sense" but I think you might mistake my motives.

Personally-I don't have a problem with this bunch of would be (child) parents which I believe is probably a money making exercise. People can do what they want if it doesn't involve hurting another person (and they will do it whatever I or others think)

Historicaly-people have been having children at an early age for thousands of years and it doesn't seem to have caused a problem although I recognise this is a different era.

I'm also not that interested in reading about it although I recognise that a lot of people are.

My problem..and it's a BIG one..the hypocrisy of the tabloids and polticians (and living between the UK, Australia and as a regular visitor to the USA) I see virtually little difference in the way both the media and polticians operate.

Poltiicians have commandered the welfare of children for base political purposes-the media for profit. Child neglect in these 3 countries is rampant and a disgrace. They are 3 of the wealthiest countries on the planet but it's only when sex is involved-do they become involved.

As I said-the laws in Australia are very specific. If someone wrote a tale and published it about a bunch of underage kds havng sex-and that is what's happened in the UK (with Murdoch Aussie newspapers repeating the tales with relish and in all it's gory details)about other lads who claim they climbed into bed with this girl-they would be arrested., charged and pilliored in the media.

So do we have laws that exempt the media but not the individual ?. That's how it appears at present-a very very grey area has been created and it's why I await the Minister's response (incidently-many goverment ministers regard me as a real pain)

I notice that Max Clifford has become Alfie's family spokesman. Very busy man at the moment isn't he? On TV as well defending Jade Goody and the right to make money.

What a man.

The guy is great TV - hence they love him. Every chav story seems to end up in his hands. Its the way he "tells em" - Good Storyteller !