Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator Farrell. I refer to the Albanese Labor government's ongoing commitment to online safety and the delivery of world-leading social media minimum age limits. How is the government tackling a range of abusive and predatory technologies and taking a new proactive approach to protecting our wider community from the impacts of stalking, nudity and deepfake apps?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Walker for her question and the great work that she is doing on behalf of the people of South Australia.

Today marks yet another step in the Albanese Labor government's ongoing commitment to tackle the abhorrent spread of abusive and predatory technology. Alongside our world-leading social media minimum age reform, the government is acting to protect our most vulnerable against deepfake and online stalking apps. We've seen the apps spread at an alarming rate, with one child in every classroom in Australia being the victim of a deepfake abuse. Four out of five of these victims are young girls. It's clear that this abuse is not slowing down either. Recent reports from the eSafety Commissioner indicate that the use of these apps has doubled in the last 18 months, and the harms experienced at the hands of these apps are just too great.

That's why the Albanese Labor government is determined to take a proactive approach. Our government will work alongside industry to develop and deliver these reforms alongside our ongoing work on the digital duty of care. It will complement current state and Commonwealth laws, prohibiting stalking and the distribution of non-consensual explicit materials. While we all recognise there is a place for AI and tracking technology in Australia, there is simply no place for tech that is used to abuse, humiliate and harm our most vulnerable Australians.

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

Senator Walker, a first supplementary?

Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is clear that the Albanese Labor government takes the impact and danger of online harms and abuse seriously, especially when it comes to our most vulnerable children. How is the government taking action today to protect our children from the pervasive and persuasive pull of social media and giving parent across the country peace of mind?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Walker for her first supplementary question. Our kids are always the priority. That's why today the Albanese government is committing to using every lever at its disposal to protect our kids. We must create an online environment which is safe for our kids to connect to, an environment free from predatory technology. Apps that are designed to abuse, to bully and to humiliate are unacceptable. They expose our kids at a time when they are most vulnerable.

Today's commitment to restrict access to these abhorrent apps will make a real difference in protecting young Australians. We want children to have their childhoods and we want parents and grandparents to have peace of mind.

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

Senator Walker, a second supplementary?

Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

These social media minimum-age rules will act to provide Australian parents with yet another tool to protect their children at their most critical stage of development. What impact will the Albanese Labor government's world-first online safety reforms have for Australian families and children across the country?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Walker, for your second supplementary question. We have fewer than 100 days until the start of the Albanese Labor government's world-leading social media minimum-age restriction—fewer than 100 days until we give kids the chance to build a real-world connection. That's fewer than 100 days until our kids are empowered to know who they are before platforms assume who they are.

Australian parents know the Albanese Labor government has their backs. We stand on the side of each family faced with an increasingly scary and dangerous digital environment. Social media has a social responsibility, and our government will continue to hold it to account.