Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Stewart for the excellent question. As she references, the Prime Minister did announce last year that our government would legislate 16 years of age as the minimum age for access to social media. This week, the Minister for Communications has tabled the rules for these world-leading minimum age social media laws. Starting from 10 December 2025, we will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating a social media account.

Following advice from the eSafety Commissioner and broad consultation, Minister Wells also outlined which types of online services would be excluded from the legislation, including health and education messaging apps as well as games. Most importantly, we are placing the burden of action on social media platforms, not just on parents or young people. I have heard some criticism from some in this place about this policy framework and I would say this: it is true that there is no solution which is perfect when it comes to keeping our young people safe online, but minimum age social media laws will make a meaningful difference. They are also the right thing to do.

The online environment can be dangerous and these laws are about giving parents and carers additional support—and I'm sure many parents relate to this challenge—to help ensure that children won't feel isolated or excluded for not being on social media, because their friends and classmates will not be on it either. Building Australia's future includes doing all that we can to give the next generation of Australians the best shot at life. It means looking after the next generation. The Albanese government is delivering on that commitment.