Ross Vasta (Bonner, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

When it comes to online safety, the Morrison government has a strong record of protecting Australians from online harms. We are world beaters on this issue and that's something we can all be proud of. As our everyday reliance on the internet grows so too does the danger for our safety. From online scams to online bullying, trolling and spam, for all the reliance and great things we can do on the internet, the risk of these negative aspects if higher than ever before. With Safer Internet Day marked last month, I organised a safer internet forum for seniors in my electorate of Bonner. Sadly, some of our older Australians have become easy targets for online scammers, who come across as legitimate. It can be easy to see why people are being caught out. Federally, the Morrison government is funding $9.3 million to continue the Be Connected program to help older Australians navigate the online world safely. This is a fantastic initiative. However, with the number of calls my office receives questioning whether certain emails and calls are legitimate, I was keen to organise a local event with guest speakers from the Bonner community. I was very pleased to have more than 50 seniors in my electorate come along to learn about how to avoid common online scams.

I would like to thank Bob from the Office of Fair Trading and Senior Sergeant Kylie Doyle from Holland Park Police Station for coming along and running presentations on some of the latest scams and frauds catching out unaware internet users. As the online world gets craftier with their scams, it's so important that we stay informed of their latest attempts. It's also important that we don't take requests to verify information or pay unsuspecting fines on face value, and instead question the legitimacy of such requests. The bottom line is: if your gut says there's something wrong, it usually is right. Locally, I'm always working to support my constituents in Bonner to help them and inform them on matters such as avoiding online scams.

From a national point of view, I'm proud to be part of a government that established the world's first eSafety Commissioner to improve online safety for all Australians. The Morrison government is supporting the eSafety Commissioner to the tune of $100 million to support vital online safety initiatives over the next four years. Such initiatives include takedown mechanisms to remove cyberbullying material, intimate images shared without consent, and prohibited and illegal material. Working towards building a safe online community has never been more important. In 2019, eSafety received more than 1,500 reports of image based abuse, and more than 600 complaints of serious cyberbullying targeting Australian children. Whilst scamming unsuspecting victims is a horrible crime, cyberbullying is abhorrent, and we have zero tolerance for such acts. The eSafety Commissioner has received a lot since its establishment to improve online safety and, with the proposed online safety act currently under consultation, we will be able to implement wider takedown schemes.

The Morrison government is at the forefront of protecting Australians from online harm and holding tech industries to account. As a government, we must work together to keep Australians safe in their homes, in the community, and online.

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