Question Time Response - Online safety

Question - Federal Member for Parramatta, Andrew Charlton: 

My question is to the Minister for Communications. How is the Albanese Labor Government supporting Australian families to keep young people safer online?

Answer - Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland:

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the member for his question. 

The Albanese government understands that parents and communities are concerned about the harmful impacts of social media on young people and they want action. That's why we are introducing legislation this year for a minimum age to access social media.

This legislation will help parents manage the problems of screen over-use and tackle addictive features like infinite scrolling. I was pleased to represent the Prime Minister at the recent social Media Summit jointly hosted by New South Wales and South Australia. This is a national problem and it requires a national approach. At the Summit, I heard about the harms that can arise from excessive screen time and from content that encourages self-harm amongst many others. 

Two-thirds of 14-17 year-olds have viewed extremely harmful content online including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm as well as violent and gory material. This is unacceptable and must be addressed. 

Our legislation is intended to support parents in overseeing how and when their children use social media. This is why we will place the onus on the platforms, not on users. Platforms will be required to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to comply with our laws. 

We are on the side of Australian parents, and we are on the side of Australia's young people. 

At the Summit I also heard about the importance of online environments for young people to connect and access support or access legitimate children's content.  I'm grateful for the feedback and views that have been put forward by young people and mental health advocates. We've been listening to make sure we get this right. 

And that is why our proposed legislative design includes an exemption framework which will provide a positive incentive for digital platforms to develop age-appropriate safe and healthier versions of their services. Exemptions will complement the minimum age because we know that harmful content doesn't stop when you reach a particular age. 

Mr Speaker, we have already seen platforms do more and they should do more, and we have had very useful discussions with experts across the country on what age we should legislate and how this should be done. 

It was instructive to meet with former Chief Justice French and receive his useful reflections on the Government's approach. Indeed, this is an issue that governments and regulators around the world are grappling with, and I note that Norway recently announced it would also be setting an age limit for social media. 

Engaging with parents and youth advocates, it's clear to me there's an understanding of our balanced approach. And I note recent research showing an overwhelming majority of Australians support this and fundamentally that is what this legislation is about.