Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is not my first speech. My question is to the Minister for Youth, Senator Walsh. I refer to the Albanese Labor government's legislated social media minimum age limit and the government's ongoing commitment to delivering world-leading online safety measures. How is the government taking action to protect young Australians now and into the future from the persuasive and pervasive pull of social media and giving parents across the country peace of mind?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Dolega, for the question. We look forward to hearing your first speech, and I am pleased to get this as my first question as the Minister for Youth. As the Minister for Youth and the Minister for Early Childhood Education, I am acutely aware that the first 16 years of a person's life really matter, and I know that Senator Dolega shares that view. The Albanese Labor government is stepping up to help parents and their kids to be safer online, with world-leading laws. From 10 December, social media won't be an assumed part of life for Australian families, and Australians should be immensely proud that we are prioritising the online safety of our children and leading the world with these reforms.

The relationship between social media and children's mental health is one of the most important conversations of our time. Social media connects us and binds us but is also used to abuse, control and harass us. Put simply, we want our children to have another three years away from the perils of online abuse. The first 16 years of life are incredibly important for a young person's development. There is a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms damaging the brains of our kids. Young people will have three more years to know who they are before social media assumes who they are. These years shape a young person's trajectory in so many ways, including academic, social and emotional development. They lay the foundation for future learning, health and wellbeing. We also know that positive early experiences foster healthy development while negative ones have lasting harmful effects. That's why we're delivering this important change for children and for their families.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dolega, first supplementary?

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government takes the impact and danger of online harm seriously, especially when it comes to our kids. How is the government's historic legislation to delay access to social media until the age of 16 holding big tech companies accountable and families at the heart of decision-making. What will this legislation mean for Australia's young people?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is on the side of families. We have faced and will continue to face pressure from major companies, but we can't be clearer: we are on the side of families in this. Delaying access to social media until the age of 16 will protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them three more years to build real-world connections and online resilience. There are heavy penalties of up to $49.5 million per breach for companies who fail to take reasonable steps to prevent underage account holders accessing their services. We want Australian parents and carers to know that the Albanese government has their backs. We are putting parents before platforms, because we know what a gift childhood is, and this gives children back their childhoods.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Dolega, second supplementary?

Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The social media minimum age rules will deliver on the Albanese Labor government's commitment to protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development. How is the government responding to expert advice from the eSafety Commissioner and providing more certainty for parents and kids on the upcoming social media minimum age restriction?

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, again, Senator Dolega, for the question. In response to advice from the eSafety Commissioner, Ms Julie Inman Grant, the online safety rules specify which types of online services will not be captured by the social media law, including messaging apps and health and education services. From December, all services that meet the definition of an age restricted social media platform in the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 and are not excluded in the rules will be subject to the social media minimum age law. This law requires social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having an account from 10 December 2025. The onus is strictly on social media platforms; there are no penalties for under-16s who may gain access to an age restricted platform or for parents or educators who may provide that access. Again, Australians should be immensely proud that we are prioritising the online safety of our children and leading the world. (Time expired)