Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Allison, I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes the reports of the harmful effect of sexualisation in the media of children, especially young girls, including the:

(i)   negative impact on development, self-image and emotional development including shame, anxiety and even self disgust,

(ii)   increased incidence of eating disorders, depression and low self-esteem,

(iii)   negative consequences on sexuality, and

(iv)   the promotion of negative stereotypes of women as sex objects;

(b)   agrees that the Government will call for the forthcoming reviews of each of the Commercial Television Industry Codes of Practice and the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice to specifically address:

(i)   sources and beneficiaries of sexualisation of children, and

(ii)   short- and long-term effects of viewing or buying sexualising and objectifying images, and their influence on cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, sexuality, attitudes and beliefs; and

(c)   agrees that the Australian Media and Communications Authority will provide a report to Government by 31 March 2008 and make recommendations on:

(i)   strategies to prevent and/or reduce the sexualisation of children in the media, and

(ii)   the effectiveness of different approaches to reducing the amount of sexualisation that occurs and to ameliorating its effects.

Question agreed to.