My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator Farrell. Australia is leading the world when it comes to online safety, specifically the online safety of our kids. The Albanese Labor government is taking steps to increase the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to ensure Australian children are protected online. Can the minister outline how the government is leading the world in keeping kids safe online.

Can I issue my welcome to Ambassador Suzuki and his colleagues who have just left the room. I thank Senator Ghosh for his question and the great work that he does on behalf of the people of Western Australia in this parliament.

Australia is proud to be leading the world when it comes to protecting children online. More than 20 countries are taking Australia's lead and looking at putting in place similar laws to ensure young children are protected online from the harms of social media. The Albanese government will always prioritise keeping Aussie kids safe, and we've had the backs of Australian families through our social media minimum-age law. These laws can evolve and change as technology changes. We need to be agile and vigilant to protect our kids and deliver for the Australian parents who have led this global movement.

That's why we introduced laws in parliament in June to ensure an independent regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, has the tools that she needs to help keep kids safe online. These laws will strengthen the investigative powers of the eSafety Commissioner and will double the fines for noncompliance to more than $109 million. The eSafety Commissioner will also be able to ask for more information from social media companies and, critically, from the age-verification companies and other parties. The Albanese Labor government is leading the world in its effort to protect young children online and will continue working to do that.

Senator Ghosh, first supplementary?

We know that there are proven harms of social media for young kids, and we know it impacts young children's wellbeing and their ability to achieve their full potential. Minister, how is the Albanese Labor government's world-leading social media minimum-age law putting Australian kids' safety first as well as backing Australian families?

I thank Senator Ghosh for his first supplementary question. By delaying under-16s' access to social media, we're giving more of them time to build real world connections, to build resilience and awareness and to develop better digital literacy about what awaits them online. This is what Australian parents have asked us for, and we are backing them. Australians deserve to be proud of delivering these changes which are unashamedly focused on keeping kids safe. The Albanese government is on the side of families and kids, and we will continue to back them through these world-leading laws. That's why we have laws in the Senate right now to further strengthen the social media ban, which will deliver more protection for Australian kids.

Senator Ghosh, second supplementary?

Western Australian families I speak to have been incredibly supportive of the Albanese Labor government's social media minimum age laws. Minister, why is it important that the independent regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, has all the tools it needs in order to ensure our kids are protected from the pervasive pull of social media, and what risks are there to this approach?

Thank you, President. You wouldn't be surprised at all that Western Australian families are so supportive of Senator Ghosh and what he's been doing over there. We've always said that these laws, which are the first in the world, must continue to evolve and develop, and that's why, when the eSafety Commissioner asked for additional powers to ensure this law could be policed effectively, we acted without delay. The coalition and the Greens, of course, ignored the pleas of parents who want social media companies to be held to account.

I'm calling on the coalition and the Greens to act in good faith, put politics aside and pass this bill this week. That's what Australian families deserve. These laws passed with bipartisan support originally, and I call on those opposite to do the same again. The Albanese government will continue delivering on its commitment to protecting children online.