Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam is in Geraldton for the ‘Switch On' of the National Broadband Network.

As the Greens communications spokesperson Senator Ludlam played a key role in negotiating the legislative framework of the NBN, introducing safeguards against privatising the Network.

The Attorney-General's Department has admitted it had legislation drafted for a data retention scheme, changing answers it previously provided to Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam in Senate Estimates hearings.

1.30pm - Saturday July 6 Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge.

Speakers include Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam and Electronic Frontiers Australia chair David Cake.

Edward Snowden blew the whistle on an American surveillance program monitoring communications around the world - spying on users of companies including Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple.

Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs

Notice given 17 June 2013

Senator Scott Ludlam: asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs on 17 June 2013:

Is United States citizen Mr Edward Snowden listed on the passenger assessment clearance and evaluation system to alert Customs and Border Protection that he is a person of interest and may be subject to intervention.

In the absence of Senate representation arrangements - The Minister for Home Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Notice given 17 June 2013

Senator Scott Ludlam: asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship on 17 June 2013:

Is United States citizen Mr Edward Snowden listed on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship movement alert list as a non-citizen of concern.

The Greens have moved to bring common sense and fairness to copyright law with the introduction of the Copyright Legislation Amendment (Fair Go for Fair Use) Bill by communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.

"Public submissions on our Bill open today. Central to our reforms is the introduction of a ‘fair use' provision. It will make the Copyright Act properly reflect the legitimate expectations of consumers by promoting innovation and fair access to archives and other information stores of public interest," said Senator Ludlam.

This Bill introduces four reforms to Australian copyright law to remove discrimination to the visually impaired, protect Australia's libraries, digital innovators and educational institutions, prevent Australians paying higher prices for software, games and music and to adopt the US fair use model which allows the law to respond to new technology that was not, or could not, be foreseen by parliamentarians.

The long running campaign for the future of digital community radio was finally given its due, securing the Federal funds needed to keep the vital service on the air in the nation's capitals.

Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam congratulated the community broadcasting sector for its tireless advocacy.

"This is a much deserved win for the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, the thousands of volunteers who keep our radio stations on the air, and all of their listeners," said Senator Ludlam.

The Federal Government must unequivocally reject mandatory telecommunications data retention in the wake of the release of the National Security Inquiry report, the Australian Greens said today.

Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the Report reinforced the overwhelming public opposition to the proposal to collect and store the telephone and email data of all Australians for two years.