Andrew Broad (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am quite proud to speak on the Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 and cognate legislation in the Australian parliament, because I understand the innocence of youth. It is important that we protect our youth, who need an opportunity to grow up and develop as people and not be subjected to harassment and predators, which have now become more prevalent because of online technology.

Years ago a father and a mother could very much protect the Australian family home, but now the family home can be infiltrated so much more easily because of technology. Around half of Australians between the ages of eight and 11 use social media services. I am always astounded by how tech savvy our young Australians are. Even a two-year-old can work out how to use the remote control for the television. It just amazes me, especially when I find myself still, as a federal member of parliament, typing with two fingers. Technology has afforded our children great opportunities, but it also has some inherent risks. While 50 per cent of people between the ages of eight and 11 use social media services, that figure greatly increases, to 90 per cent, for those between the ages of 12 and 17.

I hark back to my best mate, who was best man at my wedding and whose daughter has recently turned 15. On her 15th birthday she said to her mother, 'Mum, how old were you when you got your first mobile phone?' Of course, those of us born in the late seventies will realise that mobile phones were not around when we were 15. She said to her daughter, 'I was 35 when I got my first mobile phone,' and her daughter said, 'Have I got to wait till I'm 35, Mum?' And her mother promptly replied, 'Yes!' If we could, we would protect our children by keeping them away from technology, but we cannot. The world has moved on, and technology is very much a part of their lives. But it is right and appropriate for the government to have a look at how, within the means of technology, we can protect our children.

One of the most important roles of the Australian parliament is the defence of its people and the protection and security of its people. Protecting our young children and teenagers, as they are walking the journey of growing up, from those who seek to be predators and from those who seek to bully them is very much the role of the Australian parliament. It is something that unites both sides of this parliament when looking at issues like child safety and enhancing online safety.

This bill has a lot of good in it. It talks about developing the Children’s e-Safety Commissioner. I think it is appropriate that we resource someone with the key role of looking at this issue and making sure we protect our children. It is very simple to talk about it but not to resource it. It is very simple to appoint it to lots of different departments, but then it gets missed because everyone is busy. The establishment of an e-safety commissioner is very good. It is the first point from which we should start. Promoting online safety will be part of the e-safety commissioner's role. It is important that we start with the fence around the top of the hill, ensuring that parents are looking at what their children are viewing and what access they have to online material. It is important that a conversation occur between older peers and younger peers about what is appropriate viewing and about what is appropriate behaviour and unacceptable behaviour. The fence around the top of the hill in promoting online safety is a very good place to start.

The other thing is an effective compliance system. There also needs to be a way of removing bullying from the internet. The trouble for so many people is that the internet has a way of retaining things, and things can pop up again and again. That can be quite traumatic, particularly for young males or females as they are growing up. It can be quite traumatic when they are dealing with bullying not only in the schoolyard but also through social media, where the bullying spreads and is sent to their mates. Having a way of removing that online presence is critical. We have been quite strategic in doing this in the bill, and I think the approach taken is very wise, with a two-tiered system, essentially asking online platforms to be socially responsible and, if they are not, using legislation to bring that about.

Statistics tell us that 21 per cent of 14- and 15-year-olds and 16 per cent of 16- and 17-year-olds have experienced cyberbullying. Every one of us in this chamber, who have had different life experiences growing up, would be able to remember what it is like to be bullied as a child. It does stick with you. In the chamber, where people throw abuse at one another—that is a bit of an overhang in the Australian parliament—we have thicker skin and we can behave ourselves and handle things a bit differently. But in those early years when you are growing up and struggling with self-image and self-worth, those things can bruise. Making sure that we have a good system of removing that possibility through legislation is very important.

The third key feature of this bill, which is also part of protecting our children, is additional funding of $7.5 million for schools to access online safety programs. There are filters we can have but the teacher cannot always be watching, even with the new style of classroom—I am glad I was not brought up in these classrooms because it is very hard to hide in the corner—there is the ability to use online equipment. It is important that we have allocated $7½ million for the National Safe Schools Framework to help online safety programs. I am always very impressed with the way youth culture stands up for youth culture. Surrounding our children with positive messages is very empowering to young women and men as they walk this journey. Whilst I know this is quite an indulgence, I want to quote some of the lyrics from a Taylor Swift song. It is quite a controversial song, because recently it was banned from Triple J's Hottest 100. There are many Taylor Swift fans who would say that banning this song from the Hottest 100 is the strongest argument for cutting ABC funding and Triple J funding. According to 'Shake it Off':

Cause the players gonna play, play, play

And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate

Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake

Shake it off.

It is a really positive song when you look at online bullying. What it is actually saying is: 'Just let it wash over you.' It is a great symbol for a young successful singer to say to her culture: 'Bullying can happen, you cannot control what they are going to say to you, but you can control your response to it.' That is another way that we can also address this issue.

Certainly the Australian government's commitment to have a children's e-safety commissioner is great. It will promote online safety and a two-tiered compliance system that can remove bullying and abusive words from the internet is the next step. Spending $7½ million for the schools access online safety program is fundamental for protecting children and our schools. In the words of Taylor Swift, 'Shake it off'. Let's say to our young people out there: 'You are worthwhile; you are someone; you have a strong future. Shake it off. The haters are gonna hate, the players are gonna play. We want your innocence protected; we want you to grow up in peace and harmony and you to contribute to make this country a great country.'

See this speech in context