<div><p>CANBERRA (Reuters) - Computer hackers disabled several Australian government websites Wednesday in coordinated attacks protesting against a planned internet filter aimed at pornography.</p><p>The attacks, confirmed by the Attorney-General's Department, crippled Australia's parliamentary website for almost an hour, including the Communications Department, which is pushing a compulsory internet filter for pornography and offensive content.</p><p>The attacks were launched by hackers aligned with an anti-Church of Scientology group known as "Anonymous."</p><p>"No government should have the right to refuse its citizens access to information solely because they perceive it to be 'unwanted'," the group said in an email.</p><p>"The Australian government will learn that one does not mess with our porn."</p><p>Australia's center-left government, which faces elections later this year, has promised an internet filter which would block a list of banned websites, including child abuse material and pornography. Laws will be introduced to parliament soon.</p><p>Australia's sex industry claims pornographic films are being rejected by censors because they star small-breasted women who could be confused as minors and appear underaged.</p><p>A poll this week by McNair Ingenuity Research for the state broadcaster found 80 percent of the 1,000 respondents backed the filter plan, which is strongly opposed by free speech groups.</p><p>The Communications Department said the hackers had not infiltrated government security, but had instead swamped government computer servers.</p><p>"Australian Parliament House website (www.aph.gov.au) was unavailable this morning for approximately 50 minutes due to a distributed denial of service attack by individuals belonging to the "Anonymous" group. It is now back on line," a spokeswoman said.</p><p>(Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Nick Macfie)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=68789352&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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