The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014 was tabled in the Australian Parliament on 30 October 2014. The Bill immediately engendered criticism and controversy that continued through its passage through Parliamentary Committees and debates. Notwithstanding those criticisms and a number of critical reports of Parliamentary Committees, the final Act was passed on...

This paper analyses the business and social policy underpinnings of safe harbours in law, the appropriateness of broad form protections, and the vexed distinctions between copyright and other areas of law.