Source: Prime Minister of Australia
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon again. Well its been 6 months since the start of our world-leading aged social media ban started and I’m joined by the Minister. But importantly as well, I’m joined by Wayne Holdsworth, parent of Mac, and Mia Bannister, the parent of Ollie. This is a change in the world that has been led by Australian parents. Who have taken what are personal tragedies and channelled that into a demand for action to protect our younger citizens. And that has made an enormous difference, and I do want to thank Wayne and Mia and others who are just joined online by Emma, who is out of Australia at the moment, for the courage that they have shown. They are truly inspirational Australians. More than 5 million social media accounts for under 16s have been deactivated as a result of this ban. It has created a global conversation and we are proud of it. Many nations are now following our lead, indeed at least 20 to implement their own bans. However, it’s clear that big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law and there are still too many children on social media. So, we’re calling time on the social media companies today and doubling down on the changes that we have made and that we’re prepared to make . Today we’ll introduce legislation this afternoon that goes further to ensure social media companies are doing everything within their power to stop children under 16 being on their platforms. We’re doubling the fines, we’re giving the eSafety Commissioner world leading powers to compel them to comply. This is the right thing to do. We’re committed to backing the Australian parents that led this global movement. And this week and next week, our nation’s children are heading on their school holidays and we want them on the football fields, on the netball courts, not on their phones because this will make an enormous difference. We said when we did this legislation that it wouldn’t be perfect and indeed we’re going to have to see over the years because technology changes with nudify apps, with algorithms, with all of these changes that occur with new technologies. We will have to be – whoever is in government will have to be – vigilant and prepared to make changes and continue to keep on top of this issue. I do want to pay tribute to Peter Dutton, the former Leader of the Opposition who backed these reforms as well and made sure that they were bipartisan when the legislation carried. We’ll be asking for similar support across the Parliament for this legislation from both the Opposition, but crossbenchers as well. This is a national issue. In the interests of our youngest and most vulnerable Australians, we have a responsibility to do what we can to protect them.
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