unethical wedgie praises son's spamming business

"
Electronic campaign: Mr Howard has used his son’s business to spam voters. (ABC)

Howard backs son's political spam campaign
The Prime Minister has defended the use of his son's computer software company to spam voters with Liberal Party election material.

John Howard's son Tim is one of the directors at Net Harbour, which has a contract with the Liberal Party to send out unsolicited e-mails to voters.
Mr Howard says the Liberal Party is fully aware of the arrangement and he has paid for it out of his own pocket.

Speaking on ABC local radio in Tasmania, the Prime Minister has refused to say how much the service is costing.

"It's not public money, it's private Howard money and I don't intend to disclose that because it's a private matter," he said.

"It is being sent out in my name as the Member for Bennelong.

"I'm very proud of the fact that my son has started a small business. He's in his 20s and I get a real buzz out of the fact that he's prepared to have a go in a small business, that's what the future of this country is all about."

However, the Labor Party is demanding the Australian Communications Authority investigate the matter.

Labor's Kate Lundy says the scheme may breach new anti-spamming laws.

"Political parties have been given an exemption but it seems this Net Harbour is a commercial entity," Ms Lundy said.

Troy Rollo, the independent candidate for the NSW seat of Bennelong, Mr Howard's seat, says the exemption in the Spam Act 2003 for political parties and charities is clearly being exploited.

"We were assured at the time the exemption was just a precautionary measure and it wasn't intended to give the green light to political parties and charities to spam," he said.

"It doesn't matter what the content is or what the financial arrangements might be, if you're sending unsolicited electronic mail in bulk then you are spamming and that is a big indication that you have an ethical problem."

Mr Rollo is also a recognised anti-spam campaigner.
"