Copyright law proposals being presented today (Tuesday, December 9) to federal cabinet would block Australians from accessing websites like The Pirate Bay, but would not punish those who downloaded copyrighted material illegally.

The reforms, developed by attorney-general George Brandis and communications minister Malcolm Turnbull, will disappoint rights-holders who had been lobbying for harsher penalties.

The joint submission argues that ISPs and rights-holders need to work together on a code registered with the Australian Communications And Media Authority, Fairfax Media reports ...