Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Albanese Labor government's focus since being returned to office has been on delivering on its commitments to the Australian people. Why is it important that government delivers on its commitments and how is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitment to protect young Australians from the harms of social media?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to 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.

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

Senator Stewart, first supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During our first term, the Albanese Labor government also delivered on our commitment to make medicines cheaper, cutting the maximum price of a PBS listed script from $42.50 to $30. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to deliver on our commitment to make medicines even cheaper for Australians?

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

As you would know, Senator Stewart, when we came to government in 2022, about a million Australians were not filling their prescriptions, because they could not afford them. They weren't filling their prescriptions, because they couldn't afford them. This was the situation when those opposite were in government. So we delivered the largest cut to the price of PBS medicines in the history of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, cutting the maximum price from $42.50 to $30, and freezing the price at $7.70 per script for concession card holders and pensioners.

Now, colleagues, do we remember what the coalition did when faced with the opportunity to help Australians afford their medicine? Can we remember what they did when cheaper medicines came before this chamber? They voted against it. They voted against cheaper medicine. They voted against more money in Australians' pockets. We on this side will not be deterred. This week we are going further— (Time expired)

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

Senator Stewart, second supplementary?

Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In November last year, the Prime Minister announced a commitment that a re-elected Albanese Labor government would cut student debt by 20 per cent. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on this commitment, and what does this mean for people struggling with student debt?

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

As the senator would know and as colleagues would know, last year the Prime Minister came to South Australia, to the electorate of Sturt, and announced that a re-elected Labor government would cut student debts by 20 per cent. We promised that this would be the first thing we would do when we were back in parliament, and that is exactly what this team has done. That's exactly what we have done, because we understand that getting an education shouldn't mean a lifetime of debt. Three million Australians are getting a 20 per cent cut to student debt, and millions more will benefit from our changes to the repayment threshold so that Australians can earn more before they start paying off their debt. This is on top of our policy last term to cap indexation.

Whilst we are cutting student debt, what are they doing? When this vote came on in the chamber, they were so divided they couldn't even bring themselves to vote. They couldn't even—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on misleading the Senate. Labor did not cap indexation.

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

Senator Henderson, that's a debating point, and you know that very well.

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

Whilst we are cutting student debt, you can't even bring yourselves to vote on it. (Time expired)