“There’s a pretty simple concept here; there are some things that we do not allow to be shown in our cinemas or on our TV screens because they’re grossly offensive and wrong, and we don’t want those things percolating throughout our society through the internet,” she said.

However, it is understood that in time for the next election.

The timing is due to a postponement of the legislation to allow for a review of the Refused Classification category of content — which the filter is intended to block — was carried out by the Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, for the consideration of federal and state attorneys-general.

The attorneys-general were slated to meet in November 2010 to confirm the review then consider the scope of methodology of the review in March this year, with recommendations to be presented back to the attorneys-general in early 2012.

“It may then take [the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General] a number of meetings before it reaches consensus on any recommendations from the review,” read the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy briefing documents on the timing of the filter.