My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last week, the Albanese Labor government announced a world-leading step to protect young people from harm on social media platforms and give adults more choice online. How does a digital duty of care make the internet a safer place for our children? And why are basic online safety standards so important to implement?

I thank Senator Dowling for the question. For the first time, tech companies will have a legally enforceable duty to prevent harm on their services, and that's why the government's plan to implement a digital duty of care is so important. All online services, from chatbots and apps to online gaming, will need to protect children from harmful content and features. It will also give Australians a choice—a real choice—over their feeds, with My Feed, My Way. Users will have a choice to opt in or opt out of the algorithm, a choice social media platforms will have to respect.

This is not about controlling what adults see online, and it will not control what people post. But, as all parents know, when new harms emerge online and it's your child in the firing line, you want the government to act as swiftly as possible. Remember when, in December of last year, Grok started allowing users to nudify photos of children. Australians were rightly horrified. It's instances like that, alongside other evidence we hear. These include AI chatbots telling girls how to subsist on 600 calories a day, algorithms which serve up misogynistic content to boys in under 13 minutes or the insidious grooming that has occurred on Roblox.

When we on this side hear that evidence, we know there is a choice to be made, and we are choosing to act. We are choosing to act now and we are consulting on the digital duty of care, and we will work with this parliament to give Australian adults more choice and protect Australian children from harmful content online.

If Senator Henderson were actually concerned about children instead of One Nation, she might not be interjecting in the way she is, because this is about—

This is outrageous.

What is outrageous, Senator, is the fact that you, after 13 days, changed your position because you're worried about Senator Hanson. That is outrageous. (Time expired)

Senator Dowling, first supplementary?

Minister, as you've outlined, the Albanese Labor government's plan is all about giving back power and choice to adults over their own feeds, keeping illegal content off the internet—

Senator McKenzie, come to order.

and helping our children stay safe from psychosocial harms online. As the government continues to progress the consultation, what sorts of responses have we seen to this plan from community groups and faith based organisations?

It's true: last week there were many parents, experts and community groups across this country breathing a sigh of relief because they have been calling for this. They have been calling for this: basic safety standards for the digital services we use every day. Varsha Yajman, an advocate with lived experience, said:

Knowing that I and others dealing with body image issues or disordered eating can simply say no to this content is empowering …

The support for this empowerment is broad. Groups including Equality Australia, the Working Women's Centre, the Chinese Australian Forum, the Hindu Council of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry have welcomed a digital duty of care.

Equality Australia doesn't even recognise women.

In fact, Senator Henderson, they want the parliament and the government to go further. While those opposite parrot freedom of speech lines because it's what Senator Hanson and One Nation are doing, we on this side want to hold big tech to account. You used to want that, then you changed position after 13 days. (Time expired)

Senator Dowling, second supplementary?

It's clear the Albanese Labor government's proposal to take steps that hold big tech accountable and keep our kids safe not only holds broad community support but also is something that many groups have been asking for. Could the minister outline if there are any risks to the government's plan to implement a digital duty of care and set basic safety standards online?

This side of the chamber has heard the calls from the community to act and to act now, and it is up to all of us. In 2021, the passage of the Online Safety Bill occurred because both sides of parliament worked together. In 2024, even Peter Dutton—even Peter Dutton—stood up to work with the government to tackle the scourge of social media. Senator Henderson just last month said that what we needed to do is to give young people—

listen to your words, Senator Henderson—and all Australians greater choice as to what they see online. Here's another quote for you, Senator Henderson:

If you are focused on online safety for children, why are you trying to stop this bill coming into law?

That's what Senator Henderson said.

The courage of your convictions! Thirteen days and you changed, because One Nation changed. Don't you ever come here and talk to us about the politics of conviction, because you have none!

Order! Senators McKenzie, Henderson and Nampijinpa Price, one of your very own frontbenchers was on her feet, waiting to ask her question, but the three of you were so busy interjecting, being rude and disorderly, that you didn't even notice. I don't know what it takes for me to keep you quiet. I would have thought one of your own senators standing might have actually rung a bell.