This Web site is no longer available.

This is due to the passage of the Criminal Code Amendment (Suicide Related Material Offences) Act 2005 in the Australian Parliament. The Act, which comes into force on 6 January 2006, makes it a criminal offence to provide certain information or discussion in relation to suicide.

Although there are some exemptions provided under the Act, the wording of the Act is sufficiently vague, in the advice that I have obtained, to raise significant concerns for anyone providing information about suicide online. The Act also criminalises obtaining certain information about suicide over the Internet - potentially making users of the site criminals. Due to the risk of criminal charges and substantial penalties (up to AUD$110,000 for each offence) both for myself and people in Australia accessing the site, I am unable to continue operating this Web site.

The Act does not have extra-territorial effect, so does not prevent Australian citizens from providing or accessing any information about suicide when overseas, but I am currently resident in Australia and therefore subject to the provisions of the Act. The site is also not available from the Internet Archive to avoid any potential legal ramifications of continuing to provide the content.

My apologies to the 500,000 people who accessed this site in the 10 years it was launched on 21 May 1995, and my apologies to all those trying to access the site today.

suicide @ rochford.org - www.rochford.org/suicide/